Philip Pearson

Philip Pearson

Pearson in 2012
Sport(s) Basketball
Current position
Title Assistant coach
Team Georgia
Biographical details
Born February 16, 1971
Montgomery, Alabama
Playing career
1989–1994 Alabama
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994–1995
1995–1998
1998–2009
2009
2009–		 Arkansas–Little Rock (asst.)
Murray State (Asst.)
Alabama (asst.)
Alabama (interim HC)
Georgia (asst.)
Head coaching record
Overall 6–7

Philip James Pearson (born February 16, 1971) is an American assistant basketball coach for the University of Georgia Bulldogs 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

Early life

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

Assistant coach

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

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

On April 8, 2009, Pearson was named as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia, under new Bulldogs coach Mark Fox.[10]

Personal life

Pearson has two daughters and one son.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Philip Pearson". TideSports.com. 2005-12-27. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Player Bio: Philip Pearson". University of Alabama Athletics. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  3. ↑ "Embattled coach Gottfried resigns". ESPN. 2009-01-27. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  4. ↑ "Arkansas 89, Alabama 80". Associated Press (ESPN). 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  5. ↑ "Alabama 75, Georgia 70". Associated Press (ESPN). 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  6. ↑ "Alabama 70, Tennessee 67". Associated Press (ESPN). 2009-03-08. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  7. ↑ "Alabama Crimson Tide Schedule - 2008-09". ESPN. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  8. ↑ "Focused Pearson continues to guide Tide". Montgomery Advertiser. 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  9. ↑ Zenor, John (2009-03-27). "Alabama hires VCU coach Anthony Grant". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  10. ↑ Estes, Gentry (2009-04-08). "UGA hires Philip Pearson to new coaching staff". Mobile-Press Register (al.com). Retrieved 2009-04-08.

External links