Bruce Pearl, the winningest head coach in Auburn basketball history and an outspoken supporter of Israeli and Jewish causes, abruptly announced his retirement on Monday. His son, Steven, is set to take the helm of the Tigers.

The surprise resignation ahead of the opening of the NCAA season comes as Pearl is reportedly considering entering politics. The Republican and supporter of President Donald Trump has acknowledged a possible run for Senate in Alabama to fill the seat that Tommy Tuberville is vacating next year. Tuberville, too, was a prominent coach in the state before running for office.

“It’s certainly something that I had considered,” Pearl said in early September, according to ESPN. “It’s something I thought a great deal about, but obviously I’m here today and I’m in practice an

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