Tennessee Denies Bruce Pearl Ever Offered Position at Memphis

Tennessee Denies Bruce Pearl Ever Offered Position at Memphis

WBIR-TV (Knoxville) contributor Chris Low of ESPN.com says there is a real interest in Bruce Pearl on the part of the University of Memphis Tigers.

Low believes Memphis is prepared to offer Pearl as much as $21 million over 7 years. WMC-TV reported earlier in the day that such an offer had been made; the University of Tennessee has since denied that claim.

Tiffany Carpenter, Public Relations Director for the UT Athletic Department, told 10 Sports that Pearl had not received any offer.

She also said Pearl was in Detroit Thursday, presenting an award to Louisville Coach Rick Pitino.

The Commercial Appeal reports the head of Memphis's coach search committee, Alan Graf, is in Detroit Thursday night. Graf is also the CFO and Executive Vice President of FedEx.

Low believes Memphis asking permission to speak to Pearl would be one of the last steps in the process.

Athletic Director Mike Hamilton told VolQuest.com yesterday he would not grant Memphis permission to speak to Pearl.

Low is reporting that it is believed Pearl would like to see improvements in the facilities at the University of Tennessee, and more money for his assistant coaches. As an example, two of Lane Kiffin's assistants make more individually than all of Pearl's assistants combined.

Again, the University of Tennessee is denying reports that Bruce Pearl has been offered a 7-year, $21-million deal to coach at Memphis.

The University of Memphis would have to ask UT's permission to talk to a coach under contract.

WMC in Memphis reported Thursday morning that University of Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl was offered a 7-year, $21-million deal to coach there.

The University of Memphis recently lost its coach to the University of Kentucky. John Calipari signed a $4-million-a-year contract to coach the Wildcats.

Sources tell WMC that Pearl has been offered a deal and that he has expressed interest.

Stick with wbir.com and WBIR-TV for the latest developments.


WMC-TV, Kris Budden, Steve Phillips, Brent Hubbs (Volquest.com), Chris Low (ESPN.com)