Amid an overhaul to the coaching staff and the arrival of a new general manager, Penny Hardaway will return to Memphis as head coach next season. The 54-year-old is all set to lead the Tigers in what will be his ninth season with the team.
Hardaway guided Memphis to a 13-19 season this year, which included a seven-game losing streak. The Tigers lost to Tulane in the first round of the American Athletic Conference tournament.
Penny Hardaway Set to Make Memphis Return for Crucial Ninth Season
According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Hardaway will return to Memphis next season as head coach amid the program’s overhaul. The former Orlando Magic guard is said to have presented a plan to the program’s administration during meetings to turn the tide next season, which includes changes to the coaching staff and hiring a general manager to help with the off-court side of things.
Hardaway has an overall record of 175-87 as Memphis’ head coach. This includes three appearances in the NCAA Division I tournament and one win (over Boise State in 2022).
In addition, the former NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist has won two conference championships with Memphis and was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2025.
A year on from a 29-6 run, the Tigers endured a dismal season, failing to meet expectations after being predicted to win the conference in October. This was Hardaway’s first losing season as Memphis head coach. There was uncertainty about his future amid two years left on his contract, and many felt his job was in danger.
Per ESPN, Hardaway’s buyout if Memphis decided to part ways with him this year was nearly $6 million.
“It was a failure for sure. You can’t categorize it anywhere else, any other way. We didn’t do what we needed to do. We failed,” Hardaway said following Memphis’ loss to Tulane in the American Athletic Conference tournament.
“But, again, you can come back from failure. There’s been a lot of teams that have gone through this more than any and I’m the head of that failure,” he added.
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Despite the team’s disappointing results this season, those in charge have decided to stick with Hardaway for at least one more season. He will now be tasked with guiding his alma mater through troubled waters, supported by a newly appointed general manager and wholesale changes to his staff.
