Who Is Penny Hardaway Today?
Penny Hardaway, born Anfernee Deon Hardaway, is an American college basketball coach and former NBA All-Star who currently serves as the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Memphis, his alma mater.[3][7] Once known primarily for his dynamic playing career, he is now recognized as the architect of a resurgent Memphis program on the national stage.[1][3]
Hardaway was hired by Memphis in 2018, replacing Tubby Smith and immediately energizing the fan base with elite recruiting and a renewed connection to the city’s basketball roots.[3] Over multiple seasons, he has transitioned from a celebrity hire into a seasoned college coach, refining his approach to culture, tactics, and staff building.[1]
Memphis Back in the National Conversation
Under Penny Hardaway, Memphis has climbed back into the AP Top 25 and reestablished itself as a regular NCAA tournament contender.[1][2] By the 2024–25 season, the Tigers were tracking toward their best NCAA tournament seed since 2009, powered by a schedule that included high-profile wins over programs such as Missouri, UConn, Michigan State, Clemson, and Ole Miss.[1]
This resurgence has been grounded in strong recruiting, experienced rosters, and a willingness to schedule aggressively to prove Memphis can compete with blue-blood programs.[1][4] The result is a national profile that has kept the Tigers ranked for most of the season and restored Memphis to relevance within both the American Athletic Conference and the broader college basketball landscape.[2][4]
Coach of the Year Buzz and Evolving Coaching Style
Hardaway’s success has earned him individual acclaim, highlighted by his inclusion on the 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year watch list.[2][4] He is one of only 15 coaches nationwide on the list and the lone representative from the AAC, recognition that reflects Memphis’ 21–5 record, No. 22 national ranking, and extended run in the AP Top 25 during the season.[2][4]
Behind that recognition is a noticeable evolution in his coaching style and staff construction. Hardaway revamped his bench by adding veteran coach Mike Davis and high-level assistant Nolan Smith, while adopting a stricter, more accountability-driven approach with his players.[1][7] Those changes have helped Memphis avoid the midseason collapses of prior years and positioned Hardaway as not just a local icon, but an emerging force in the national coaching ranks.[1][2]