Um, wtf? I thought directly after the NCAA tournament (and during in fact), the good coach had supposedly said repeatedly that he would stay at Tennessee. I mean, it’s one of those things I guess, that when an opportunity arises, you have to seize, seeing as how a dream job comes only once in a lifetime, but still… I can’t help but feel a bit… um, used?

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. (AP) – Bruce Pearl, coach of the Tennessee Volunteer basketball team for the past three seasons has accepted a job to become the new head coach for the Indiana University basketball team. This comes after weeks of speculation that Pearl had been considering leaving Tennessee for what he described as his “dream job.”

Indiana University’s basketball program is likely to face sanctions from the NCAA stemming from violations by former coach Kelvin Sampson who was fired over inappropriate contact with potential recruits. Many within the Indiana organization had speculated that Pearl was on the short list of candidates for the vacant coaching job due to his ability to turn programs around while maintaining a clean program.

Pearl, took over a fledgling Tennessee basketball program, leading the team to heights once only reserved for the women’s basketball program in Knoxville, including a short-lived #1 ranking as well as three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Pearl was able to take Tennessee to 77 wins during his tenure on Rocky Top, the most for any coach at the school in the same time span.

Pearl becomes the third head coach for Indiana following the departure of Bobby Knight. Former Knight assistant Mike Davis was hired following the firing of Knight, but achieved only limited success, and Kelvin Sampson’s tenure didn’t last through the entirety of a season.

Indiana University’s Athletic Director Rick Greenspan was quoted as saying the following regarding the hire of Pearl:

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Bruce Pearl join us at Indiana University and are excited about the future of the program under coach Pearl. We know that he will conduct his affairs with the utmost respect, both to the University and to the rules, and look forward to a new era of Indiana Hoosier Basketball”

Although no details had been released as of this writing Pearl will likely make around $2 million per year, which is significantly higher than the $1.3 million he made in the past season at Tennessee.

Well, it was fun while it lasted. I’m sure people will lambaste Pearl for ditching the program that gave him a chance at the Division I level, but I for one, will choose to appreciate the time he did spend with the program, and wish him good luck at his dream job. I can’t blame the guy for taking it, as if Tennessee’s football team came a-knockin’ at my door and asked me to be the head coach, I’d leave my job of being an international spy and bikini inspector any day.

Good luck coach, and go get ‘em. You’ll always be a Vol to me.