Good Morning, Auburn Family. Coaching veterans T.J. Rushing and Roc Bellantoni have been named defensive assistant coaches at Auburn, head coach Hugh Freeze has announced. Rushing, who joined Auburn’s staff in June 2024 as a special assistant to the head coach, will coach Auburn’s safeties, while Bellantoni, who was most recently at FAU and coached at Auburn from 2021-22, will coach the outside linebackers.

A Super Bowl champion as a player, Rushing has over 12 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level. Bellantoni has 30 years of coaching experience, including 17 years as a defensive coordinator. 

🏈 Read more about these strategic additions to Auburn Football. 👀

What else do we have mixed into the Brew for your today? Check it out below!

💓 WBB hosts Arkansas tonight for annual Play4Kay Pink Game
🏀 Sir Charles calls Bruce Pearl to congratulate him on his huge milestone
🐅 And much, much more!

🎥 WAREAGLE+: AUBURN ACCESS

Auburn Access: Men's Hoops defeats Texas, and Bruce Pearl becomes Auburn's all-time winningest coach.

🔼 Hoops For a Cause. The Auburn WBB team is back inside Neville Arena tonight for its annual Play4Kay Pink Game when the Tigers host Arkansas. Game time is set for 6 p.m. CT. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness and research.

The Tigers (9-6, 0-2 SEC) are looking for their first SEC win after two early contests against top-25 opponents in Ole Miss and LSU. Arkansas (7-10, 0-2) is also seeking their first league victory. Auburn is 24-22 all-time against Arkansas with an 11-9 advantage at home.

⇢ Get the full rundown and scouting report. 🏀

🔼 On the Radar. Opening Day on The Plains is just around the corner. As we draw closer to first pitch, preseason accolades have begun to drop for the 2025 season. Check back weekly to see the latest Tigers honored ahead of the first pitch.

Today, we feature Annalea Adams, who was ranked the No. 10 recruit of the 2024 class by ExtraInning Softball. A four-time 2A First Team All-State performer at Union County High School, she holds a total of eight school records and was named the 2023 TEC Player of the Year.

🔼 The Ball’s In Our Court. Auburn Women’s Tennis received recognition in two major preseason polls this week, coming in at No. 12 in the ITA national preseason rankings and No. 5 in the SEC preseason coaches’ poll behind only 2024 NCAA Championship runner-up Georgia, Texas, defending national champion Texas A&M and Florida. No. 12 marks the highest preseason ranking the program has received from the ITA. 

The Tigers are higher in the preseason poll than in the final poll of the 2024 spring season. In 2024, Auburn posted a 17-11 overall record and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season to finish the year ranked No. 17 nationally by the ITA as well as the top team in the ITA Southern Region.

🔼 Be Like Ike … Again. Let this stand as your reminder to put Auburn Baseball, and, of course, Ike Irish, back on your radar.

🐅 ONE BIG THING

A Penny For Chuck’s Thoughts. In case you were caught under a heavy piece of furniture, Auburn MBB coach Bruce Pearl became the winningest coach in program history after Tuesday’s win over Texas, and a very famous alum had a message waiting for him.

Check it out here.

And it wouldn’t be a day ending in “day” if Johni Broome didn’t receive an accolade. 👇🏼

🤔 TIGER TRIVIA

📬 SPREAD THE WORD

Do you know a friend or family member who is an Auburn fan? Simply forward them this email, and they can sign up to receive the Brew by clicking the link below to subscribe. The Brew is sent every weekday and is completely free!

📅 ON THE DOCKET

Thursday, Jan. 9
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Arkansas - Play 4 Kay @ 6 p.m. CT SEC ESPN+ Buy Tickets | Live Stats

Friday, Jan. 10
👟 XC-Track @ Harvey Glance Tigers & Tide Dual Meet - All Day Tickets | Meet Info

Saturday, Jan. 11
🌊 Swimming & Diving vs. South Carolina @ 10 a.m. CT
🤸🏽 Gymnastics vs. Penn State - San Antonio Invitational @ 12 p.m. CT
🤸🏽 Gymnastics vs. Maryland - San Antonio Invitational @ 12 p.m. CT
🤸🏽 Gymnastics vs. Arizona State - San Antonio Invitational @ 12 p.m. CT
🤸🏽 Gymnastics vs. Temple - San Antonio Invitational @ 12 p.m. CT
🏀 Men’s Basketball @ South Carolina @ 12 p.m. CT SEC ESPN | Live Stats

Sunday, Jan. 12
🏀 Women’s Basketball @ Kentucky @ 2 p.m. CT SEC ESPN | Live Stats

🐅 Go here to view the entire Auburn Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 214!

During his introductory press conference, Bruce Pearl outlined his objective at Auburn.

“I want to build my legacy here,” Pearl said on his 54th birthday on March 18, 2014. “I’d like to try to be the winningest coach in the history of Auburn basketball.”

Mission accomplished. 

Fewer than 11 years later, Pearl earned win No. 214 Tuesday when No. 2 Auburn defeated Texas 87-82.

🐅 Happy Thursday, Auburn Fam!