Bruce Pearl is dipping into Auburn’s annals for his next assistant coach, hiring Tigers basketball legend Chuck Person on Monday.
Person, Auburn’s all-time leading scorer, has been talked about being a candidate for Pearl’s staff ever since his introductory press conference March 18 and has remained a visible presence around Auburn’s facilities nearly every day since.
Person is the fourth member of Pearl’s first staff at Auburn, joining longtime Pearl assistant Tony Jones, who was with him at Tennessee, Pearl’s son, Steven, who is expected to shift into an assistant strength and conditioning position, and Director of Basketball Operations Todd Golden, who was previously an assistant coach at Columbia.
Person finished his Auburn playing career as the school’s all-time leading scorer and was the fourth overall selection in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers, going on to win NBA Rookie of the Year
Person spent 13 years in the NBA, playing for the Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets and Seattle SuperSonics.
Person has yet to earn his undergraduate degree after leaving a few hours short of graduating when he left for the pros in 1986.
Person is a 14-year NBA coaching veteran — all as an assistant. Mamadou N’diaye is another former Auburn great who interviewed for a position on Pearl’s staff last week, spending the two days around team facilities.
Pearl spent three days in Arlington, Texas, this weekend interviewing multiple potential coaching candidates while attending the Final Four.
Pearl still needs to hire one more assistant coach, likely one with a recruiting-heavy background, to go along with a director of player development and a director of scouting/video.
Person had previously interviewed for Auburn’s head job back in 2009 when athletic director hired former Texas-El Paso head coach Tony Barbee. Barbee was fired March 12 about an hour after the season-ending first-round loss in the SEC Tournament, a fourth consecutive one-and-done exit in the conference tournament.
Person’s coaching career started with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2000 and included a four-year stint with Los Angeles Lakers where he was a member of Phil Jackson’s staff during the 2010 NBA championship season.
After being let go following the 2012-13 season by Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni, Person spent last season as an assistant working for a professional team in South Korea. He’s since moved back to Auburn.
Alex is the Auburn University Sports Writer for the Opelika-Auburn News.