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SAN ANTOINO ― Florida basketball coach Todd Golden landed his first chance to work at a power conference program when he was hired at Auburn in 2014 as director of basketball operations under head coach Bruce Pearl.
Pearl served as a mentor to Golden based on their shared Jewish faith. Golden played under Pearl as the 2009 Maccabiah Games, shortly at the end of his college basketball career at Saint Mary's.
But Golden developed an even closer relationship with Pearl's son, Steven, based on their closeness in age. Golden is 39, while Steven Pearl, now an assistant coach at Auburn, is 37.
Both were twenty-somethings establishing their respective coaching careers when they befriended one another at Auburn. Steven Pearl was the assistant strength coach at the time.
"It was a lot of fun," Pearl said. "I wasn't married at the time, he was to his wife Megan, and we had a good small group of friends in Auburn and yeah we used to spend a lot of time with each other. We'd always go to his house or our house. watch "The Bachelor" together. Just random stuff like that."
Golden worked his way up to assistant coach at Auburn from 2015-16 before leaving to take over as associate coach at San Francisco under Kyle Smith.
"It was obviously tough to see him go, but we kept in touch over the years and have just been really close," Pearl said.
Pearl could tell at the time Golden had the makings to be a successful future head coach.
"He was just so analytically driven and detail oriented and just knew, he was very confident in his work," Pearl said. "So, it's no surprise that he was able to do what he did in San Francisco, and now what he's done for Florida."
Steven Pearl was one of the first people Golden Face-Timed after Auburn beat Michigan State in the Elite Eight, setting up Saturday's Final Four matchup between the Florida Gators and Auburn at the Alamodome (6:09 p.m., CBS).
"I would not be here if I didn't have my relationship and experience working with and being around Bruce and his son Steven," Golden said. "A little bit of a full-circle moment for both of us. When the ball goes up on Saturday, it's going to be pretty cutthroat. Until then, there will be a lot of love shown."
Likewise, Steven Pearl is expecting a heated matchup on Saturday with a trip to the national title game on the line.
"We're obviously both intense competitors and we both want to win more than anybody," Pearl said.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball coach expects heated matchup with Auburn despite close ties with coaches
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Pearl served as a mentor to Golden based on their shared Jewish faith. Golden played under Pearl as the 2009 Maccabiah Games, shortly at the end of his college basketball career at Saint Mary's.
But Golden developed an even closer relationship with Pearl's son, Steven, based on their closeness in age. Golden is 39, while Steven Pearl, now an assistant coach at Auburn, is 37.
Both were twenty-somethings establishing their respective coaching careers when they befriended one another at Auburn. Steven Pearl was the assistant strength coach at the time.
"It was a lot of fun," Pearl said. "I wasn't married at the time, he was to his wife Megan, and we had a good small group of friends in Auburn and yeah we used to spend a lot of time with each other. We'd always go to his house or our house. watch "The Bachelor" together. Just random stuff like that."
Golden worked his way up to assistant coach at Auburn from 2015-16 before leaving to take over as associate coach at San Francisco under Kyle Smith.
"It was obviously tough to see him go, but we kept in touch over the years and have just been really close," Pearl said.
Pearl could tell at the time Golden had the makings to be a successful future head coach.
"He was just so analytically driven and detail oriented and just knew, he was very confident in his work," Pearl said. "So, it's no surprise that he was able to do what he did in San Francisco, and now what he's done for Florida."
How Todd Golden, Steven Pearl are approaching the Florida basketball vs Auburn Final Four matchup
Steven Pearl was one of the first people Golden Face-Timed after Auburn beat Michigan State in the Elite Eight, setting up Saturday's Final Four matchup between the Florida Gators and Auburn at the Alamodome (6:09 p.m., CBS).
"I would not be here if I didn't have my relationship and experience working with and being around Bruce and his son Steven," Golden said. "A little bit of a full-circle moment for both of us. When the ball goes up on Saturday, it's going to be pretty cutthroat. Until then, there will be a lot of love shown."
Likewise, Steven Pearl is expecting a heated matchup on Saturday with a trip to the national title game on the line.
"We're obviously both intense competitors and we both want to win more than anybody," Pearl said.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball coach expects heated matchup with Auburn despite close ties with coaches
Continue reading...
