MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Penny Hardaway, known for electrifying fans as an NBA star, has also demonstrated prowess as a college recruiter during the era of the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation. However, his coaching capabilities haven’t always been the highlight of his profile, particularly among rare coaches who have their own signature shoe lines.
This year’s NCAA Tournament, however, could mark a shift in perception concerning Hardaway’s coaching skills in his seventh season back at his alma mater. The catalyst for this change can be traced back to the trying experiences of last season. “That fall I took actually made me better,” Hardaway admitted. “It made the team better because I got better.”
As a testament to Hardaway’s growth, he has been named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Coach of the Year. This accolade represents a significant rebuttal to critics who doubted his tactical acumen, despite his recruiting skills. The news of Hardaway’s recognition sent a wave of excitement among the Tigers as they celebrated with him during practice. The team further highlighted his achievements by clinching the AAC Tournament title on Sunday.
The Memphis Tigers have entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed in the West Region and are set to face 12th seed Colorado State on Friday in Seattle. This seeding is the program’s highest since 2009, a period just before John Calipari departed for Kentucky, following the Tigers’ national championship game appearance.
Reflecting on his journey, Hardaway said, “Growth as a coach, growth as a person, my faith, again, like I say. Through the storm, that was a huge storm last year, you know, losing this game, the first round at the tournament, my mother having throat cancer and just really just going through it. To be here now, happy, winning a regular season and the conference championship, man, I feel blessed and grateful.”
Celebrating their AAC regular-season success, Hardaway enjoyed the moment on Memphis’ home court as they cut down the nets. “It means a lot because I’ve grown a lot,” he reflected, emphasizing his journey of personal and professional development.
In March 2018, Hardaway was perceived as a beloved figure poised to turn around a program that had underperformed under former coach Tubby Smith. Since then, Hardaway has led the Tigers to an NIT championship, participated in the NCAA Tournament twice, and now secured a conference championship. These achievements are particularly meaningful after the challenges faced a year ago.
Preseason optimism was met with disappointment as Memphis ended in fifth place in the AAC, encountering internal issues and an early exit against Wichita State in the conference tournament. It was the first time in four years that Memphis didn’t participate in any postseason games. “The bottom fell out,” Hardaway recalled, “and there was nothing I could do about it.”
In response, Hardaway overhauled his coaching staff and revamped the team’s roster, while also reevaluating his own coaching strategies. He confessed to previously over-relying on others. “I had to learn a lot, and that growth this year was what I needed,” he expressed. “It’s just a great feeling.”
Hardaway bolstered Memphis’ non-conference calendar, securing early victories over defending national champion UConn and Michigan State, then ranked No. 7. The Tigers also emerged victorious against the then-No. 21 Missouri and No. 10 Clemson before achieving a 16-2 record in the AAC.
Despite initial skepticism about whether Hardaway could transition from a respected player to a successful head coach, his ability to guide the Tigers back to their former NCAA glory—highlighted by multiple Final Four appearances—has gained recognition.
Senior guard Tyrese Hunter remarked, “Penny’s a laid-back coach.” He noted that stepping out of that comfort zone and becoming more assertive proved beneficial throughout the season. Center Moussa Cisse agreed, acknowledging that Hardaway now holds players to higher standards. “He holds me to a higher standard, so I got to match that,” Cisse stated. “So I would say that’s the difference. He really coaches everybody, like, the same and then he gives us, like — what do you call it? Energy. So that’s probably the difference.”
