Todd Golden
Todd Golden coaches from the sidelines in this undated photo during his time at Columbia. Golden was hired as Auburn's director of basketball operations last week. (Courtesy photo)
AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn officially announced the hiring of Todd Golden as its director of men's basketball operations Wednesday.
Auburn's hiring of the former Columbia assistant was reported last week by AL.com.
Coach Bruce Pearl and Golden spoke publicly about the hiring for the first time in a series of statements released by the school Wednesday afternoon.
“I was incredibly honored when coach Pearl approached me about joining his staff at Auburn,” Golden said in a statement. “After taking into consideration coach Pearl’s past success in the SEC, along with the storied history of Auburn basketball, I felt there was no better program for me to learn and continue to grow as a young basketball coach at the highest level of college competition.”
Golden has one year of coaching experience under his belt after serving as Columbia's director of basketball operations during the 2012-13 season.
Golden played at Saint Mary's, where he graduated in 2007. He played for Pearl at the Maccabiah Games in 2009 and was the team's co-captain. He played alongside Steven Pearl, Bruce's son.
“In coaching, in management and in leadership you surround yourself with people better than you and you look for great dimensions,” Pearl said in a statement. “Having coached Todd Golden and having watched his career in coaching I knew he could be a great asset to help me develop this program.”
Golden has been on Auburn's campus for most of the last week.
Auburn has one more major spot to fill on its staff as Pearl searches for a third on-the-court assistant. Auburn legend Chuck Person joined Pearl's staff Monday. He joins Tony Jones on Pearl's staff. Steven Pearl will serve as the team's assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Pearl may make a decision on a third assistant coach by the end of the week. He interviewed 12 candidates in Arlington, Texas during the Final Four, including Cal assistant Greg Gottlieb and Oklahoma State assistant Butch Pierre, according to a source.
Patrick Beilein, the son of Michigan coach John Beilein, was on Auburn's campus Monday. Beilein coaches West Virginia Wesleyan.