Tony Madlock Returns to Penny Hardaway's Memphis Basketball Staff

Madlock rejoins as associate head coach after Hardaway's staff overhaul

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:15am

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Tony Madlock has officially rejoined Penny Hardaway's coaching staff at the University of Memphis as the new associate head coach. Madlock, who previously worked under Hardaway, approached the head coach about the position after it became clear Hardaway would be making changes to his coaching staff.

Why it matters

Madlock's return to the Memphis coaching staff brings valuable experience and continuity as Hardaway looks to rebuild the program. Madlock has deep ties to the Memphis basketball community and his familiarity with Hardaway's system could help provide stability during a transitional period.

The details

Madlock told The Commercial Appeal that he approached Hardaway about the associate head coaching job, saying 'It was just kind of one of those, 'Hey, let's get back together.'' Madlock previously worked on Hardaway's staff from 2018 to 2022 before leaving to pursue other opportunities.

  • Madlock officially rejoined the Memphis staff on March 30, 2026.
  • He previously worked on Hardaway's staff from 2018 to 2022.

The players

Penny Hardaway

The head coach of the University of Memphis men's basketball team.

Tony Madlock

The new associate head coach of the University of Memphis men's basketball team, who previously worked on Hardaway's staff from 2018 to 2022.

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What they’re saying

“I came to him, it was just kind of one of those, 'Hey, let's get back together.'”

— Tony Madlock, Associate Head Coach, University of Memphis

The takeaway

Madlock's return to the Memphis coaching staff brings much-needed experience and continuity as Hardaway looks to rebuild the program. Madlock's familiarity with the system and deep ties to the Memphis basketball community could provide a steadying presence during this transitional period.