It was reported on Monday morning that Penny Hardaway will return in 2026 for a ninth year following a disappointing season, but significant changes are expected to the coaching staff. The news was first reported by CBS Sports, and the athletic department put out a press release shortly after.
Hardaway said after the final game against Tulane that he had met with AD Ed Scott and that they were planning on meeting again to discuss the future.
“Penny is deeply committed to this program and to the University of Memphis,” Scott said. “We have had productive conversations about the future of Memphis basketball and the steps necessary to position our program to compete at a high level. I appreciate Penny’s willingness to evaluate every aspect of the program and make the adjustments needed to achieve our ultimate goal of postseason success.”
Memphis just wrapped up its first losing season since the 1999-2000 season, and Penny’s first year with fewer than 20 wins in his coaching career. With Hardaway returning, it’ll be interesting to see who returns on the roster.
The Tigers have eight players with eligibility remaining, and Hardaway must decide if he wants to retain them going into an important year or clean house after a season he called a failure. In the new age of college athletics, there has been constant talk about adding a general manager to the staff, and it appears that a hire could be coming soon.
A GM won’t be the only hire that Hardaway will have to make this offseason after it was also announced this morning that assistant coaches Mike Davis, Jermaine Johnson, Roy Rogers and strength and conditioning coach Todd Frorcier were let go following the season.
“I’m grateful of the work that Mike, Jermaine, Roy and Todd have put into the program and the support they’ve provided to our student-athletes,” Hardaway said. “As we look ahead, it’s important that we continue to evaluate our program and make the adjustments necessary to compete at the highest level. Our focus is on building a staff and culture that will help Memphis Basketball reach the standard that our university, our fans and our city expect.”
Johnson has been with the program since the 2020-21 season, while Davis joined prior to the 2024 campaign. Rogers was only with the program for one season, and he will now pursue NBA opportunities, according to Jon Rothstein.