Philip James Pearson (born February 16, 1971) is an American basketball assistant coach for the UAB Blazers men's basketball Team. During part of the 2008–09 college basketball season, he was the interim head coach for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team.
 Pearson in 2012 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Assistant Coach |
| Team | UAB |
| Conference | American |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | February 16, 1971 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1989–1994 | Alabama |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1994–1995 | Arkansas–Little Rock (asst.) |
| 1995–1998 | Murray State (Asst.) |
| 1998–2009 | Alabama (asst.) |
| 2009 | Alabama (interim HC) |
| 2009–2018 | Georgia (asst.) |
| 2020–present | UAB (asst.) |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2019–2020 | Clemson (Director of Recruiting) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 6–7 |
Early life edit
Pearson was born in Montgomery, Alabama[1] and attended high school at Jeff Davis High School, where he lettered in basketball and baseball and was also named an all-city basketball player.[2]
He attended the University of Alabama between 1989 and 1994 where he played varsity basketball for five seasons, before graduating in December 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree.[1] While playing basketball, he was named as the Paul Bryant Student-Athlete of the Year and President's list academic honor roll.[2]
Coaching career edit
Assistant coach edit
During the 1994–95 men's college basketball season, Pearson worked an assistant under Wimp Sanderson for the Arkansas–Little Rock Trojans men's basketball team, in which time the Trojans went 17–12.[2] In the next season, he moved to Murray State University under head coach Mark Gottfried where he worked as an administrative assistant, before being promoted to director of basketball operations in the following season.[2] In 1997, while working for the athletics department, he graduated from Murray State with a Master of Arts in Health, Physical Education & Recreation.[1] The next season, he was promoted to assistant coach. During his three seasons with the Racers, the basketball team won three OVC championships and advanced to two NCAA tournament appearances.[2]
Alabama edit
On January 27, 2009, Pearson earned his first head coaching position when he was named interim head coach for the University of Alabama men's basketball program, following the resignation of Mark Gottfried.[3]
Pearson lost his first game in charge of the Tide, an 89–80 decision in favor of Arkansas on January 29,[4] before earning his first victory in a 75–70 win over Georgia two days later.[5] Alabama's NCAA tournament hopes fell short when the team was eliminated by Tennessee 70–67 in the second round of the SEC tournament.[6]
Alabama finished the season with an 18–14 record, with a 6–7 record under Pearson.[7] He continued to lead Alabama as acting interim head coach until March 27,[8] when it was announced that the school had hired Anthony Grant.[9]
Georgia edit
On April 8, 2009, Pearson was named as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia, under new Bulldogs coach Mark Fox.[10]
Head coaching record edit
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide (Southeastern Conference) (2009) | |||||||||
| 2008–09 | Alabama | 6–7 | 5–6 | 4th (West) | |||||
| Alabama: | 6–7 (.462) | 5–6 (.455) | |||||||
| Total: | 6–7 (.462) | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
Personal life edit
Pearson has two daughters and one son.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Philip Pearson". TideSports.com. December 27, 2005. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Player Bio: Philip Pearson". University of Alabama Athletics. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ "Embattled coach Gottfried resigns". ESPN. January 27, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ "Arkansas 89, Alabama 80". Associated Press. ESPN. January 29, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ "Alabama 75, Georgia 70". Associated Press. ESPN. January 31, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
- ^ "Alabama 70, Tennessee 67". Associated Press. ESPN. March 8, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
- ^ "Alabama Crimson Tide Schedule - 2008-09". ESPN. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ "Focused Pearson continues to guide Tide". Montgomery Advertiser. March 27, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ Zenor, John (March 27, 2009). "Alabama hires VCU coach Anthony Grant". Associated Press. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
- ^ Estes, Gentry (April 8, 2009). "UGA hires Philip Pearson to new coaching staff". Mobile-Press Register. al.com. Retrieved April 8, 2009.
External links edit
- Philip Pearson at UABSports.com
- Philip Pearson at Rivals.com