The college basketball world was in shock when Bruce Pearl announced that he was stepping down as Auburn's head coach. After 11 years with the team, he will now move into an ambassador's role in the athletic department as a special assistant to the athletics director.

Many have been confused about why Pearl would announce his retirement with the season coming up, and in a recent interview, he explained why it came at this time.

“…As I got into it this fall, I just realized that I wasn’t 100%. I wasn’t relentless. I was a little tired, and I didn’t know I was going to feel that way. Is it because the season lasts so much longer now than it used to? Probably,” Pearl said via War Eagle Plus.

Pearl was the winningest coach in Auburn men's basketball history with 232 wins, while leading

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