The head coach for the Auburn University men’s basketball team, Bruce Pearl,
is this generation’s
Sandy Koufax
.

Koufax stands out as an emblematic character for American Jews primarily due to his strong adherence to his Jewish heritage rather than solely because of his exceptional skills as a baseball pitcher, though this undoubtedly adds to his prestige. By choosing not to play in Game 1 of the 1965 World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers since it coincided with Yom Kippur, he solidified his status as a revered icon among numerous American Jews during that era.

Although personally not particularly religious, Koufax prioritized respect for his heritage over professional obligations – including one of the most important baseball games of the year. In so doing, he set an example for Jews of standing up for one’s identity and beliefs.

His action occurred during a period when antisemitism was widely tolerated in American society, and numerous Jews faced pressure to integrate into the dominant culture to achieve success.

Why was Pearl compared like this?

So what did Pearl do to warrant this comparison? On Sunday, after his Auburn Tigers defeated Creighton in the widely watched NCAA basketball tournament known as March Madness, he opened the postgame press conference not talking about Auburn’s dominance on the boards or its three-point shooting percentage, but rather remembering
Edan Alexander
, the 19-year-old Israeli-American who was taken captive in Gaza.

I often get asked about how our basketball program has grown so competitive over the past eight years,” Pearl stated. “However, personally, I think it was part of God’s plan to bestow upon us such success—success far greater than we merit. Success that also provides us with this platform. It allowed me to quickly establish this conference and take a moment to remind everyone that Edan Alexander remains captive in Gaza… Let’s bring all the captives back home.

In the later part of the same press conference, which was viewed by numerous American basketball enthusiasts, he expressed his affection for the United States as a Jewish American, while also highlighting his ties to Israel.

Israel serves as “the ancestral homeland for the Jewish people,” he stated, adding that “it is currently facing attacks and sieges and merely wishes to coexist peacefully with its neighbors.” Furthermore, he noted that “some Arab nations are also seeking peace with Israel at this time.” However, he pointed out that “a portion of the Middle Eastern populace has been relentlessly targeting Israel for 85 years.” He emphasized that October 7 marked one of the most horrific days for Jews since the Holocaust, and “[Hamas] claims they intend to continue these assaults repeatedly.” Additionally, he mentioned that “there are American citizens being held captive in Gaza presently,” which he described as completely intolerable.

A couple of days afterward, Pearl was featured on Fox & Friends, during which host Brian Kilmeade mentioned that although he’d interviewed numerous college basketball coaches throughout his career, none were as enthusiastic about causes outside of sports as Pearl seemed to be.

Pearl, sitting in an office with two Israeli flags – alongside a basketball net – visible on a bookcase, said since Israel’s creation, there have been some in the Mideast who have “wanted the Jews to be dead, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River.”

“I am just grateful to be a citizen of this country and to be Jewish, and we’ve got to call out the difference between good and evil,” he said.

Jews are highly visible across all aspects of American society: from science and law to literature, cinema, music, commerce, politics, and more. Although there are a few standout cases like Jerry Seinfeld and Michael Rapaport where individuals haven’t necessarily leveraged their widespread recognition to openly champion Jewish identity, it’s rare to see someone use such significant platforms to boldly defend against antisemitism and advocate for Israel.

Envision if someone like Bob Dylan, or Scarlett Johansson, or even Mark Zuckerberg had voiced comparable opinions at occasions seen by millions worldwide. Earlier this month, Gal Gadot delivered a powerful address starting with, “I’m Gal… I am Israeli, and I am Jewish,” though her talk was for an ADL conference focused on combating antisemitism. In contrast, Pearl spoke directly to America—beyond just a Jewish crowd—from Lexington, Kentucky.

Pride and determination often appear in the least expected spots. It’s surprising that the banner of Jewish pride and Israeli pride is being held high by a basketball coach from an Alabama college.

To which all we can say is: Thank you, Coach Pearl. And, of course, Go Tigers!