Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl has spoken fondly of his longtime friendship with Michael Poll, the manager of the UW-Milwaukee basketball team. Poll, who met Pearl in 2001 when he was working as a table cleaner at UWM’s athletic department, credits Pearl with giving him his start in coaching.
Pearl, who has been instrumental in shaping Auburn’s program into one of the top programs in college basketball, has become like a father figure to Poll and their group of friends. The two have taken trips together, including to the Final Four, where they’ve cheered on Pearl and his teams.
Poll’s admiration for Pearl knows no bounds. “He helped me meet my new friends,” Poll said. Despite being replaced by Pearl as the manager of UWM’s basketball team, Poll has remained a loyal supporter and has even worked under multiple head coaches in Milwaukee.
The friendship between Poll and Pearl is one that transcends sports. Poll described Pearl as “one of the most fun, outgoing young men in the world.” The two share a strong bond, with Poll saying he will get emotional if Auburn wins its first national title.
Poll’s loyalty to Pearl has been unwavering over the years. When asked about Poll’s legacy at UWM, Pearl replied, “He’s way more famous than me… They should name the court after him.” The two are set to reunite in San Antonio this weekend as Auburn faces off against Alabama, with Poll hoping to see his friend lead the Tigers to a national title.
Source: https://auburn.rivals.com/news/pearl-impacting-former-manager-two-decades-later-auburn-basketball