I met both Bruce Pearl and Cuonzo Martin in the late 1980's. Pearl was an assistant basketball coach at the University of Iowa who spent time at Jacksonville high school attempting to convince Andy Kaufmann to attend THAT University and play basketball for the 'Hawkeyes.' Martin was a senior basketball player at East St. Louis Lincoln High and his 'Tigers' came to Jacksonville to play my 'Crimsons.' Kaufmann's Jacksonville high team defeated Lincoln that evening but Martin's team would later capture the IHSA State Title.
Bruce Pearl impressed me as a very easy and out-going friendly personality. Upon meeting him, I thought he could be successful in coaching or sales; I would buy an auto or encyclopedias from him in a heart beat. Cuonzo impressed as an intense basketball player on the court and a gentleman off the court. Kaufmann 'passed' on Iowa for the Illini; he would have been equally successful at either campus. Cuonzo would play at Purdue and later coach there as an assistant. In time Martin would become a head basketball coach at Missouri State (Springfield, Mo.).
Pearl became the head basketball coach of the Tennessee Vols and appeared to be in the midst of a very successful coaching-'run' when he violated NCAA rules and lost his job. Martin followed Pearl into Tennessee but his contrasting methodical style of offensive and defensive basketball compared to the up-tempo Pearl-style did not sit well with the Tennessee fans. Some 36 thousand fans signed a petition to fire Martin and 'bring back Pearl' once Pearl's banishment was revoked.
Pearl, in the meantime took care of Pearl and signed to coach Auburn; Martin finished this past season (his third at Tennessee) in successful fashion leading Tennessee to 24 wins and a Sweet 16 NCAA berth. After the season, Coach Martin told Tennessee he would be going WEST to coach California...a tongue-in-cheek 'take this job and shove it message!' Hooray for Coach Martin!
Sometimes a job can be the right job at the wrong time! Been there DONE THAT!
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