Coach Bruce Pearl Says Auburn’s Final Four Journey Was Fueled by Faith
Auburn University Tigers Head Coach Bruce Pearl recently shared how faith plays a significant role in the team’s culture. Following Auburn’s Elite Eight win over the weekend, Pearl explained that spiritual formation is the foundation of the team’s identity rather than simply tradition, Relevant reports.
“This is a team of faith,” he said. “We work really hard at trying to bring in those kind of people—guys that are going to make sacrifices. You want to be in a great team, you got to make sacrifices. You got to share. You got to hold each other accountable. And I think that’s also a big part of what this locker room is all about.”
Pearl, who is Jewish, has promoted an environment that fosters spiritual development and says his relationship with God has become more valuable throughout the years.
“As I’ve gotten older and grown and matured, I think it’s really difficult to navigate the world without having a relationship with the Lord,” he said. “And that’s why I want to speak about it and encourage players and help them find out a way to nurture it and navigate through life.”
The head coach also noted how the team would point upward, making a three-pointer as a gesture of giving glory to God.
“You see, every time that they make a three ball, they’re calling God. That’s what they’re doing,” he said. “I’m getting emails and I’m getting voicemail messages from parents of 8-year-old girls going, ‘My daughter banged her first three and she called God,’ and the parents were so excited about it.”
Pearl added that these gestures help foster deeper conversations about integrity and character.
“Now what that also does, it gives me an opportunity as a teacher to say, ‘OK, listen, if we’re going to call God and we’re going to do that, then we can’t act this way or that way,’” he said.
Several Auburn Tiger members also highlighted how the team has grounded themselves spiritually, including mandatory 9 a.m. team breakfasts that include Bible studies, according to senior center Dylan Cardwell.
“We really bought in,” Cardwell said.
Senior forward Chaney Johnson contended that the Bible studies have played a significant role in drawing closer to the Lord.
“As young men, it’s always preached to hide your emotions and keep everything inside,” Johnson said, “but with the Bible studies, we’re learning about God as well as how to be a better Christian as well as being able to sharpen each other through stories and the experiences we’re going through. We better ourselves through the Word and with God.”
The team’s newfound faith has also grown thanks to Jeremy Napier, the team’s second-year chaplain.
“I don’t think I can put it into words how big of an impact he’s had on this team,” Johnson said of Napier. “He’s bringing a lot of guys to Christ in a very ethical manner, slowly but surely. A lot of the players on this team believe in Christ, but Jeremy pushes us to believe a little bit harder.
“He’s honestly made my love for Christ a lot stronger,” he continued. “I was always a strong believer, but to be able to have him pour into me from his stories and his life experiences, it really helped me build my strength for the love of God.”
WATCH: Bruce Pearl and Auburn Players Preview Michigan State Matchup in Elite Eight
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Alex Slitz/Staff
Originally published April 02, 2025.
