According to a report by Fox Sport's Jeff Goodman, Bruce Pearl has been fired as the head basketball coach at the University of Tennessee. The school is expected to make an official announcement as early as this afternoon.
The firing comes amidst an NCAA investigation in which Pearl is expected to receive heavy sanctions for recruiting violations. Pearl admitted to lying to investigators in September and has been coaching without a contract since then. Tennessee officials finally decided to part ways after the NCAA notified them of 10 major violations, including unethical conduct, during Pearl's tenure.
Pearl posted a 145-61record with the Volunteers including trips to the NCAA tournament in all six of his seasons as head coach. Tennessee made three Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite 8 appearance under Pearl. The Volunteers were eliminated in the first round of this year's tournament by Michigan 75-45.
Prior to his stint with Tennessee, Pearl coached at the Universitiy of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for four seasons, leading the Panthers to two NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 birth in 2005. Pearl began his head coaching career at Souther Indiana where he led the Screaming Eagles to an NCAA Division II championship in 1995.
Tennessee is expected to go before the NCAA Committe of Infractions in June. Goodman sited sources indicating Appalachian State head coach Houston Fancher would take over coaching duties on an interim basis until a permanent replacement was hired.
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