Penny Hardaway ‘absolutely, unequivocally’ expected to coach Memphis this season, AD Ed Scott says

Memphis athletic director Ed Scott said Friday that he “absolutely, unequivocally” expects Penny Hardaway to be the school’s men’s basketball coach for the 2024-25 season. Scott’s remarks come at the conclusion of a tumultuous week for the program that included a staff purge and the university’s acknowledgement of an anonymous letter that alleges multiple potential NCAA violations.

“Based on every piece of information I have right now, today, Penny Hardaway is going to be on that sideline marching up and down and trying to get us a victory when Missouri comes in here,” Scott said on “The Geoff Calkins Show,” alluding to the Tigers’ Nov. 4 season opener against Mizzou.

Hardaway is entering his seventh season on the job but is facing mounting pressure as his program is under NCAA investigation for a third time during his tenure at a time when fan angst has increased due to middling on-court results. The allegations contained in the letter, which the school has turned over to the NCAA, could also bring more scrutiny.

However, Scott said that, as of Friday, the school had not received a notice of allegations from the NCAA relating to the letter’s contents.

“It’s with the NCAA and I’m going to let them do their job, as I’ve done at every stop,” Scott said. “After that process works itself out, if there are things we need to be held accountable for that we did wrong, we’ll stand up and we’ll be accountable for it. But if there’s things we haven’t done that we’re accused of doing, then I’m going to defend us vigorously.”

Hardaway, a revered former Memphis and NBA star, is 133-62 overall, 69-36 in the AAC and has never won fewer than 20 games in his six seasons. However, the Tigers have just two NCAA Tournament appearances and one NCAA Tournament victory under his direction, despite routinely landing highly ranked recruiting classes and marquee transfers.

In addition to NCAA troubles that have followed Hardaway, heavy staff attrition has also been a hallmark of his tenure. Scott clarified that the staff changes this week, which included the firing of lead assistant Rick Stansbury, were Hardaway’s decisions and not an athletic department mandate. He also said the timing of the staff shakeup was “coincidental” with relation to university’s acknowledgement of the anonymous letter.

“Penny made tough decisions, and for that I’m really proud of Penny, for doing what he thinks is in the best interest of his program,” Scott said.