Bruce Pearl hasn't spoken to FBI or Auburn officials during investigation
Matthew Stevens
AUBURN — Auburn coach Bruce Pearl has yet to speak to Auburn officials conducting the internal investigation into the school’s men’s basketball program.
Pearl confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser before Tuesday’s practice that he hasn’t spoken to anybody involved in the internal investigation. Relevant personnel that Pearl hasn’t spoken to would include athletic department senior officials, athletic director Jay Jacobs, university President Steven Leath, athletic compliance director Rich McGlynn, university legal counsel and the legal counsel Auburn hired from the firm Lightfoot, Franklin & White of Birmingham.
When asked Tuesday why he hasn't spoken to any authority figures, Pearl simply said "a lot of lawyers are involved."
ESPN.com reporter Mark Schlabach reported via unnamed sources Wednesday afternoon that Pearl is “is refusing to cooperate in the school’s internal investigation into his program, and university officials have advised him that his job is in jeopardy if he doesn’t."
Following a practice Wednesday evening, Pearl issued a response to the reports that surfaced stating he was "no more concerned than anybody else" when asked about his job security at Auburn days before the season opener.
"We have to get through this investigation. I'm just looking forward to Friday night," he said.
Pearl declined to elaborate on the situation with his statement Wednesday night and quickly wanted to only take questions about the practice or on-court issues.
"This is an ongoing investigation and everyone is working to try to get our players certified and eligible, and it's a process," Pearl said Wednesday. "You guys know from the very beginning I'm not allowed to comment on the process. We are definitely working through this."
After Pearl confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that he hasn’t spoken to anybody in the athletic department about the FBI's or school’s investigation, two Auburn athletic officials said it was likely Pearl hasn’t been questioned on the matter that is connected with then-assistant coach Chuck Person getting arrested and indicted on six felony counts.
A spokesperson from the university president’s office declined comment on the matter citing “the ongoing federal investigation.”
Auburn is slated to open the season at home against Norfork State at 7 p.m. Friday.
One unnamed Auburn official told the Montgomery Advertiser that it was understood “at least immediately after Chuck’s arrest” that athletic department officials were informed by FBI and federal authorities to not talk to anybody involved in the matter until instructed otherwise as to not interfere with the ongoing investigation.
When presented with the idea on Tuesday afternoon that Pearl was intentionally refusing to comply with instructions by Auburn’s legal counsel or Auburn University officials, one athletic department officials said “maybe they've given us an OK to (question individuals involved) now. I don't know."
Auburn fired Person nearly three weeks before he was indicted by a federal grand jury. An Auburn athletic department spokesperson confirmed Wednesday morning that Person, who was hired as an assistant coach by Pearl in 2014, was terminated by his alma mater on Oct. 18, several weeks before he was indicted but less than a week after the athletic department was issued a federal grand jury subpoena regarding the ongoing investigation into college basketball.
More:Chuck Person indicted by federal grand jury, fired by Auburn
More:Chuck Person terminated by Auburn on Oct. 18, weeks before indictment
Auburn has already announced projected starters Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy will be held out to begin the season over concerns regarding their eligibility in a fallout from allegations against Person.
Part of the $91.500 received by Person allegedly includes Person saying on camera to uncover agents that he paid bribes of $11,000 and $7,500 to family members of two Auburn players in order to steer them toward financial advisers. Person also allowed for meetings to take place between the mothers of the players and the people Person was working with in the alleged scheme.
The indefinite suspension of Wiley and Purifoy came hours before Auburn's only exhibition game Nov. 2 against Division II Barry, a 100-95 loss.
“We're still not in a position where we can determine their eligibility yet, so therefore, out of caution, they weren't eligible to play,” Pearl said following the exhibition. “It's indefinite. It could be short or it could be longer. We don't know.”