Memphis Keeps Penny Hardaway Despite Dismal Season

Tigers basketball coach will return for 9th year despite 13-19 record and failure to reach NCAA Tournament

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:50pm

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The University of Memphis has decided to bring back head basketball coach Penny Hardaway for another season, despite the team's disappointing 13-19 record and failure to reach the NCAA Tournament. Hardaway, a former NBA All-Star, has led the Tigers for the past 8 seasons but has only one NCAA Tournament win to show for it. The decision to retain Hardaway signals that the program is content with mediocrity, as any other coach with a similar resume would likely have been fired.

Why it matters

Hardaway's long leash as head coach at his alma mater highlights the university's low standards for the basketball program. With the team missing the NCAA Tournament more times than reaching it under Hardaway, the decision to keep him on reflects an acceptance of mediocrity rather than a commitment to building a nationally competitive program.

The details

Memphis went 13-19 overall this past season, including an 8-10 record in the American Athletic Conference, a league that has managed just one NCAA Tournament bid in each of the last two years. Prior to beating Tulane in the regular-season finale, the Tigers had lost 7 straight games and finished 135th in the NET rankings. Despite this dismal season, the university has decided to bring back Hardaway for his 9th year as head coach.

  • Memphis wrapped up its 2025-26 season on March 11, 2026.
  • The university announced Hardaway's return on March 16, 2026, 5 days after the season ended.

The players

Penny Hardaway

A former 4-time NBA All-Star who is the head basketball coach at the University of Memphis, his alma mater. Hardaway has led the Tigers for the past 8 seasons but has only 1 NCAA Tournament win to show for it.

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What they’re saying

“Winning just some of the time is cool at Memphis.”

— Mark Harris, Author (outkick.com)

What’s next

Hardaway will be coaching for his job next season, with the expectation of immediately turning the program around and reaching the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

The decision to retain Penny Hardaway as head coach despite the team's poor performance signals that the University of Memphis is content with mediocrity in its basketball program, a far cry from the high standards that fans and the community expect.