We all know the success Bruce Pearl has brought to the University of Tennessee men’s basketball program: three SEC Eastern Division titles, one SEC championship, four straight NCAA tournament appearances, including two trips to the Sweet Sixteen, and the school’s first-ever number-one ranking. In only four years at Tennessee, he has become one of the most beloved and respected men wearing the orange and white, and after meeting with him, it’s easy to see why.

One of the hardest-working coaches in basketball, he demands the same discipline and dedication from his players. He insists that they give their all to their team, without relinquishing their academic responsibilities. His demeanor is calm and confident, and with a friendly handshake and smile, he immediately puts you at ease.

Even with all the awards and accolades Coach Pearl has earned, it’s clear that few things come close to the love and pride he has for his four children. He has two daughters, Jacqui and Leah, and two sons, Michael and Steven, all of whom are talented in their respective sports. Steven, a junior at UT, will be playing basketball for his father again this year.

Coach Pearl is more than just a loyal and proud coach of his Tennessee basketball team; he’s a loyal, proud and loving father, supportive of his children and the decisions they choose. He attends their sporting events and recitals, he encourages them to reach their athletic and academic potential, and he leads by example. It’s obvious that Coach Pearl loves coaching, but in his recent interview with Chattanooga Parent, it’s also clear that he hasn’t lost sight of the things that are truly important in his life, particularly his children. Not only is he an example for aspiring athletes and coaches, he is an inspiration for other dads, as well.

“Being a parent has helped me be a better coach”: University of Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl talks on the sidelines with then-UT point guard Chris Lofton. Coach Pearl, a father of four (including current Vols forward Steven Pearl) was in Chattanooga in September and talked with Chattanooga Parent about coaching, kids—and coaching his kid.

Pearls of wisdom

By Josh Dzik

Photo by Elizabeth Olivier/UTSports.com

“Hard work won’t guarantee success. But without hard work, I guarantee you won’t have success.”

We all know the success that Bruce Pearl has brought to the University of Tennessee basketball program: 3 SEC Eastern Division titles, 1 SEC championship, 4 straight NCAA tournament appearances including 2 trips to the Sweet-Sixteen, and the school’s first ever #1 ranking.  In only 4 years at Tennessee, he has become one of the most beloved and respected men wearing the orange and white, and after meeting with him, it is easy to see why.  There is no doubt that he is one of the hardest working coaches in basketball, and demands the same discipline and dedication from his team.  He insists that his team give their all to themselves and their team, without relinquishing their academic responsibilities.  His demeanor is calm and confident, and with a friendly handshake and smile, he immediately puts you at ease.   With all of his awards and accolades, it became clear to me that few things come close to the love and pride he has for his four children.  He has two daughters, Jacqui and Leah, and two sons, Michael and Steven, who are all very talented in their respective sports.  Steven will be a Junior playing for his father once again at UT.  Coach Pearl is more than just a loyal and proud coach of his Tennessee basketball team…he is a loyal, proud, and loving father of four talented children.  He is supportive in their decisions and respects the decisions they choose.  He attends their sporting events and recitals, he encourages them to reach their athletic and academic potential, and leads by example.  Coach Pearl loves coaching basketball and all of the success that he has earned and achieved throughout the years, but he has never lost sight of the things that are truly important in his life…family.  He doesn’t just preach the important things in life, he lives them on a daily basis.  Not only is he an example for aspiring athletes and coaches, he is an inspiration for other dads as well.

Q. How has coaching basketball made you a better parent, and are there any similarities between coaching and parenting?

A. Being a parent has helped me be a better coach. You know, I treat my players like I do my kids. I love ’em. I see something in them that they don’t see in themselves. I set the bar really, really high for them, and encourage them and support them and help them in trying to reach their goals and aspirations. And when they fail I’m disappointed and I try to believe in them. So I … happen to think that at this level, certainly high school and participating in youth sports, and yes, I even believe in college, your best coaches are—
there’s something to be said about them being the best dads.

Q. What advice would you have for parents who push their kids to play sports?

A. Well, my advice to parents who push their kids to play sports would be, “Don’t push them.” Encourage them to participate in extracurricular activities and encourage them to find God in their life, encourage them to try to achieve academically. And if sports is an area that they enjoy, then that would be great. Obviously health and exercise is extremely important, but it doesn’t have to be sports. For me, here is my deal: If you’re going to do something, do it to the best of your ability.

Q. Coming at it from the other side, what advice would you have a high school kid who is very talented, whether it is in football, basketball, or baseball, who puts his studies second behind his pursuit to play sports for a living?

A. First of all, you can do both. It’s called a student-athlete, and that’s the type of thing we want to try and encourage. Excellence in the classroom and on the court, and you don’t need to put one aside to have the other. So for me, at this level, if you aren’t performing in the classroom, you aren’t going to be on the court. It’s just that simple.

Q. Is there more pressure on you coaching your son Steven, or is there more pressure on him, playing for his dad?

A. Way more pressure on him, because my job is simple. I’m going to play the best players, regardless of whose son they are. And keep in mind, in this situation that we find ourselves in, I’m 49 and he’s 21. People expect a great deal from me, and they should.  But perhaps because he’s a son of a coach, they would have that same expectation for Steven, and that’s not fair. They should expect him to do his best, and I would hope that they would appreciate that Steven has been one of the best practice players that I’ve ever had. And he’s made some real sacrifices, being at UT, in the sense that he could be at a mid-major Division I program, and he’d have an opportunity to start, play a lot, and receive a lot of those accolades. But instead, he’s chosen to be with his father and help his father and be a part of this program at Tennessee, and obviously has worked hard. And we anticipate that if he continues to improve as he now gets to be a junior, then he’ll have an opportunity to play.

Q.  What were your emotions when he first told you that he wanted to pass up those opportunities and play for you?

A. Well, the question was quite simple. And that is, if he were someplace else, would he be watching ESPN and wishing that he was there and could be a part of it? But just like anything, I’m going to support whatever decision my son makes.

Q. Do any of your other kids play sports?

A. My daughter Jackie was an outstanding high school basketball and soccer player. My daughter Leah is on the dance team at Bearden High School, one of the finest dance teams in the state of Tennessee. My son Michael is in eighth grade at Webb School at Knoxville, and he swims and plays basketball, baseball and golf.

Q. How hard is it for you, as a coach, to sit on the sidelines and not be able to yell or say things to them?

A. It’s really, really easy. I’m as obnoxious as the next parent, and I want to try and be myself, and yet I am mindful of the fact that I am a coach. So I’ve always been very supportive of the coach. I’ve always encouraged the children to listen to the coaches first and foremost. And based on what I’ve seen … I’ve tried to support whatever direction and whatever role they ask my child to play. My children have made, and been cut from, All-Star teams. I’ve celebrated their victories and commiserated in their losses—their successes and failures.

The other point I want to make—I never, ever mind being out in the public eye, and being someone visible in the community. People come up to me all the time and apologize for asking for an autograph…they need not. I’m pleased, I’m delighted, I’m honored. And I will always make time. The only time it ever bothers me, is when I’m watching my children play—for one reason and one reason only. That’s their moment. I’m at their school play, I’m at their basketball game, I’m at their event. And not that they should be the show, but they need to be the focus. I don’t need to be the focus. So that’s the only time I really would prefer just…let’s just watch the game. Let’s look at the kids.

Q. What is one piece of advice that you would give to a high school or college kid aspires to play professional ball?

A. Hard work won’t guarantee success. But without hard work, I guarantee you won’t have success. It’s your choice. If you choose to be successful, then you’ve got to understand how competitive it is, and what it’s going to take to excel at this level.

But the other point I want to make is, be the best you can be. Be the best you can be, and enjoy the process. Enjoy the process, and if the best you can be is to make your high school junior varsity team, then that’s terrific. Celebrate the opportunity to compete at that level. Don’t believe for a minute, if that’s the best you can do, that in some way you failed. Because you’ve succeeded, in my mind.