"I didn't know if they had any synagogues in Knoxville," said the
second-year Vols head coach.
That hasn't been a problem for Bruce Pearl (the city has two synagogues) —
and neither has fitting in down in SEC country despite being Jewish and hailing
from Big East country — Sharon, Mass.
In fact, the community has taken to him largely because of his passionate
coaching style, which had him in the stands painting his chest prior to one Lady
Vols game earlier in the season, and his winning ways.
``There are certain stereotypes of the south, but the fact of the matter is
that they wear religion on their sleeves a little more than up north,"
Pearl said. "I was never worried about coming here because of my religion.
Because God's in my life, I think they admire it and appreciate it."
Pearl grew up in the fairly affluent suburb of Boston and watched his high
school football career end abruptly with a knee injury. He played quarterback
his sophomore season, but had to call it quits and instead of sulking, he
decided to work with his former backup at the position.
``The injury was the best thing that happened to him," said Pearl's
father, Bernie. "It made him find out there's more to life — other ways
of fulfilling his dream in sports than participating."
He coached 7-year-olds and was on the student council. His interests expanded
beyond athletics.
``He was the senior class president and at the same time, he was the senior
class clown," said Pearl's mother, Barbara.
Pearl went against the grain as a Jew attending the Catholic state school,
Boston College, where he came up with a marketing plan to attract students to
the games. He was a student assistant under then-BC basketball coach Tom Davis
(retiring from Drake) and later followed Davis to Stanford and Iowa.
He spent nine years as the head coach of Division II Southern Indiana before
getting his first D-1 head job at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His big break came after
a Sweet 16 appearance three years ago — where he knocked off Alabama and his
alma mater.
Pearl somehow landed in Knoxville, and has taken his energetic approach to
revive a Vols program left in disarray from the Buzz Peterson Era. The Vols were
14-17 the year before Pearl took over and lost their two best players.
 |
| Bruce Pearl has been known to show his emotion on
the sideline. (John Bazemore / Associated Press) |
Pearl was the National Coach of the Year in his first season and this year
he's back in the Sweet 16 — this time being given a legitimate shot to knock
off No. 1 seed Ohio State on Thursday night in San Antonio.
``Tennessee has great facilities, the biggest arena, we're getting a new
practice facility and the weather is phenomenal," Pearl said. "We've
got a lot of things going for us."
Pearl has been a lightning-rod for critics — because of his fiery style on
and off the court. He's gotten into it with refs while watching high school
games, has ripped off his shirt in the post-game celebration in the locker room
and gained national recognition for his bare-chested support of Pat Summit's
Lady Vols.
``I can't worry about what everyone thinks," Pearl said. "You're
not going to please everybody. I want people to respect me. The only thing I
really care about is serving my school and my family."
Pearl said he actually enjoys getting booed in opposing arenas because it
gives him that sense of respect.
``Show me the guy that people like the most in the league and I'll show you
the guy that's usually at the bottom," Pearl added.
Pearl's team lost to Greg Oden's Buckeyes team earlier this season in a close
game, but he realizes the team is vastly different now that the freshman
7-footer has gotten more game experience and time for his wrist to heal.
``He's unlike anybody I've ever gone up against because he just changes the
game," Pearl said of Oden. "He blocks every shot, and he's so quick to
get there and change shots. Every time he blocks one it's a transition fast
break for Ohio State."
But it's doubtful that Pearl and his team will be intimidated by Oden.
This is a guy who beats to his own drum and isn't all that concerned about
public perception.
He's still a regular car pool driver to Hebrew school. He goes to synagogue
for the Jewish holidays and occasionally for Shabbat.
And his daughter will be Bat-Mitvahed on June 23.