Hall of Fame
Bruce Pearl helped put USI into the national spotlight by leading the Eagles to the NCAA II national championship in 1995 and the NCAA II Championship game in 1994. The winningest coach in the history of men’s basketball with 231 wins, Pearl never had a team with less than 20 wins and made nine NCAA II Tournament appearances. USI also was ranked NUMBER ONE, nationally, for the first time under his guidance. During his tenure, the Eagles were ranked in the top spot at one point in five separate seasons. Since leaving USI in 2001, Pearl has gone on to have success at the Division I level at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Tennessee. In additions to his coaching duties, Pearl laid the foundation for athletics department fundraising and community awareness.
Year-by-Year Coaching Record
Year Record Team Honors
1992-93 22-7 Ranked 11th Nationally, Ranked 2nd Great Lakes Region, NCAA Great Lakes Regional (3rd place) (HOSTED BY USI)
1993-94 28-4 Great Lakes Valley Conference Champions; Ranked 4th Nationally, Ranked 3rd Don Hansen Basketball Gazette
NCAA Great Lakes Regional (1st place) (HOSTED BY USI)
NCAA Division II Elite Eight (Springfield, Mass.) (National Finalist)
1994-95 29-4 Ranked NUMBER ONE Nationally, NCAA Great Lakes Regionals (1st place)
NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Ranked Number One in field goal percentage
1995-96 25-4 Great Lakes Valley Conference Champions
NCAA Great Lakes Regional (2nd place) (HOSTED BY USI)
Ranked NUMBER ONE Nationally
1996-97 23-5 Great Lakes Valley Conference Co-Champions (Three-way tie)
NCAA II Great Lakes Regional berth
Ranked NUMBER ONE Nationally
Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic Champions
1997-98 27-6 Ranked NUMBER ONE nationally
Second Place GLVC Tournament
NCAA Great Lakes Regional (2nd place)
1998-99 26-6 Ranked NUMBER ONE nationally for one week (ranked number one five straight years)
Second in GLVC Tournament
NCAA Great Lakes Region (2nd place)
1999-00 25-6 500th USI victory vs. LeMoyne Owen (Nov. 22, 1999)
Ranked 5th nationally (six straight seasons in the top five)
Second in GLVC Tournament
NCAA II Great Lakes Regional (2nd place)
2000-01 26-4 Ranked NUMBER ONE for sixth time in seven season
GLVC Regular Season Champion
GLVC Tournament (2nd)
NCAA II Tournament (9th straight season)
Total 231-46
