ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
BRUCE
PEARL
ACCLAIMED NCAA COACH & ADVOCATE FOR ISRAEL
Bruce Pearl is one of the most accomplished coaches in college basketball history and one of the most outspoken Jewish voices in American sports.
As the winningest head coach in Auburn University basketball history, Pearl led the Tigers to six NCAA Tournament appearances and two Final Four runs in his 11-year tenure — earning AP Coach of the Year honors along the way.
A LEADER ON
AND OFF THE COURT
MORE THAN BASKETBALL
Pearl's impact extends far beyond the court. A proud Jewish American, Pearl has used his platform relentlessly to stand up for Israel and the Jewish people at a time when it wasn't always comfortable to do so.
When he led 120 Jewish high school students in chanting, 'Am Yisrael Chai' after a nationally televised game, the moment went viral with over 1,000,000 views.
He coached the USA Maccabi team to a gold medal at the 2009 Maccabiah Games in Israel, brought his Auburn players to the Holy Land to experience it firsthand — making Auburn the first Division I basketball team to play a professional Israeli team — and opened a March Madness press conference demanding the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
"I am a Jewish American basketball coach, and I'm a proud Zionist."
Bruce Pearl
Pearl co-founded the Jewish Coaches Association, received the Champion of Israel Award from the Manhattan Jewish Experience, and serves as Chairman of the US-Israel Education Association, bringing congressional leaders to Israel to experience the country firsthand.
He received a personal call from Israeli President Isaac Herzog following Auburn's Final Four run.
