Penny Hardaway

Penny Hardaway (born July 18, 1971)

Current position: Head men’s basketball coach
Current team: Memphis Tigers
Current conference: American Athletic Conference (AAC, The American)
Memphis record: 129-62 (.675) **
Overall record: 129-62 (.675) **

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2018-present Memphis

Penny Hardaway Facts

  • Anfernee Deon Hardaway
  • Born July 18, 1971
  • Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
  • Alma Mater: Memphis State University (BA, 2003)
  • Played at Memphis State under head coach Larry Finch for two seasons
    • Named Great Midwest POY in both seasons and earned consensus first-team All-American honors in 1993
    • Played on the USA Basketball Developmental team in 1992, scrimmaging with the “Dream Team” in preparation for the Olympics
    • Went from being academically ineligible as a freshman to the Dean’s List as a junior; finished his degree in Education in 2003
    • Has his jersey number #25 retired by the school
    • Drafted 3rd overall in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, immediately traded to the Orlando Magic
  • Had a 14-season NBA career, which started with much promise and accolades but would ultimately be slowed by injuries
    • Played for the Magic (1993-99), Phoenix Suns (1999-2004), New York Knicks (2004-06) and briefly the Heat (2007)
      • Head coaches that Hardaway played for in the NBA include Brian Hill, Chuck Daly, Scott Skiles, Frank Johnson, Mike D’Antoni, Lenny Wilkens, Herb Williams, Larry Brown and Pat Riley
    • Starred in the movie Blue Chips in 1994 alongside his Magic teammate Shaquille O’Neal
    • Named to four NBA All-Star teams and three All-NBA teams in his first five years in the league
    • Appeared in an ESPN 30 for 30 doc titled “This Magic Moment” about his time playing in Orlando with O’Neal
  • Since his retirement from playing, Hardaway has remained active in the Memphis community, especially in the sports world
  • Founded and coached a Memphis-based AAU team called Team Penny
  • Coached Memphis East High School to three straight Tennessee Class AAA titles, serving in the role of head coach despite TSSAA rules requiring he be listed as an assistant coach for much of his tenure
  • Hired in March 2018 to return to his alma mater as the new head coach of the Memphis Tigers
    • Won 21 games (2 wins later vacated as penalty for mishandling of James Wiseman recruitment) and reached the second round of the 2019 NIT in his first year, then returned to the NIT in 2021 and were champions
    • In June 2021, Hardaway interviewed and was seriously considered for the Orlando Magic head coaching vacancy, but ultimately decided to stay at his alma mater
    • Led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2023, the latter by way of the program’s first AAC Tournament title
    • Suspended for the first three games of the 2023-24 season due to NCAA recruiting violations committed in September 2021

Penny Hardaway Coaching Tree

  • Tony Madlock (Alabama State, South Carolina State)
  • Cody Toppert (Capital City Go-Go)

 

** Listed accomplishments for this coach do not include wins or appearances later vacated by the NCAA