Memphis coach Penny Hardaway to return for a 9th season with Tigers
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway to return for a 9th season with Tigers
Nick BrombergMon, March 16, 2026 at 1:45 PM UTC
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Penny Hardaway is getting a ninth season at his alma mater.
Hardaway will return for the 2026-27 season, according to multiple reports on Monday. The former NBA star has coached the Tigers since the 2018-19 season with uneven recent results.
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Memphis went 13-19 in 2025-26 and missed the NCAA tournament for the second time in three seasons. The Tigers were just 8-10 in the American Conference this season and allowed more points per game (76.7) than they scored (75.2).
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The season was a lost cause even before conference play. After a season-opening win over San Francisco, Memphis lost four straight games. The Tigers were above .500 just once all season; after getting to 9-8 on Jan. 18 with a win over last-place UTSA, Memphis lost two straight games.
The Tigers entered the season after winning both the American regular season and tournament titles in 2024-25. Memphis was a No. 5 seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament, but lost 78-70 to No. 12 Colorado State in the first round. Leading scorer PJ Haggerty then transferred to Kansas State for the 2025-26 season.
Memphis has made the tournament three times in Hardaway’s tenure but has won just one game in those three appearances. That victory came in his first March Madness game, too. Hardaway’s 2022 team beat No. 8 Boise State in the first round before losing by four to Gonzaga.
Overall, Memphis is 175-87 in Hardaway’s tenure.
Source: “AOL Sports”
