The 1985 regular season was considered a letdown , with the Tigers going 8 – 10 in conference play . Before the SEC Tournament , Smith announced his plan to retire at the end of the season . However , Smith and tournament MVP Chuck Person led Auburn to its first ever SEC Tournament championship , winning four games in four days for the first time in tournament history . He then coached that team to the Sweet Sixteen of the 1985 NCAA Tournament . Following this success , and despite receiving an offer from his former school , East Tennessee State , Smith decided to remain at Auburn . Smith would go on to lead the Tigers to three more NCAA Tournament appearances , making it as far as the Elite Eight in 1986 . This streak of five straight NCAA Tournament appearances is the longest in Auburn history . Smith was again named SEC Coach of the Year following the 1988 season
SEC Tournament championship
1985 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
Sonny Smith