Ed Scott backs Penny Hardaway as Memphis head coach amid NCAA scrutiny

While the Memphis men’s basketball program has seemingly circled the wagons recently, athletic director Ed Scott said he expects head coach Penny Hardaway to be the head coach come the season opener.

In recent days, Memphis fired a handful of assistant coaches and staff members — just months before the start of the season — shortly before it was revealed the program handed over a letter to the NCAA that alleges numerous violations within the program. The letter alleges the Tigers going outside the scope of allowable NIL to secure recruits through cash payments and academic misconduct among the men’s basketball team, among other charges, according to reports.

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It’s not clear at this point what NCAA actions might stem from that letter and the allegations it contains. But for now, Scott is standing by Hardaway as his head men’s basketball coach.

“Absolutely, unequivocally, based on every piece of information I have right now today, Penny Hardaway is going to be on that sideline marching up and down when Missouri comes in here,” Scott said on a local radio show on Friday.

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This would not be the first instances that Hardaway or his Memphis program has gotten into hot water with the NCAA. The program was slapped with lower-level sanctions after it was determined the school had violated NCAA eligibility rules by playing then-freshman center James Wiseman. Hardaway himself avoided specific punishment in that case, but the program was slapped with fines and is on probation until some time in 2025.

In six seasons at Memphis, Hardaway is 133-62 and has made a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances leading his alma mater.

More on the Memphis staff moves

Multiple reports indicated Hardaway let go of all three assistant coaches on Tuesday, just two months before the college basketball season begins. The flurry of moves creates a picture of uncertainty entering a make-or-break year for Memphis.

First, it was revealed that Faragi Phillips and Jamie Rosser, along with staffer Jermaine Johnson, would not return. Then, late Tuesday night, reports surfaced that lead assistant Rick Stansbury – who recruited most of the current roster – was let go too.

On Wednesday, Hadaway released a statement on the changes, which also include special advisor Demetrius Dyson.

“I want to thank Rick, Faragi, Jamie and Demetrius for their service to the University of Memphis and out basketball program,” Hardaway said. “These are good coaches that I’ve worked with closely over the past few seasons, but I made the difficult decision to go in a new direction with our staff. The timing is not ideal, but I want to give this team the best opportunity to reach our goals of winning the American Conference and advancing in the NCAA Tournament. With the season rapidly approaching, we are going to move quickly to complete the staff.”

Johnson, who was not listed on the team’s website as a staff member, was notably not mentioned in the release. Reports later indicated Johnson will return to the staff for the 2024-25 season.

In addition to the unprecedented overhaul in early September, Memphis has parted ways with five other staff members from 2023-24. Assistant coach Andy Borman had already left the program, along with support staffers Garrett Kelly, Jeremy Kipness, Andy Pennington and Darby Rich.

Meanwhile, Memphis still has not finalized a deal with former Duke and Louisville assistant Nolan Smith, who reportedly made the move this offseason.

Another possibility for Hardaway to fill out his staff this late in the cycle is the promotion of new consultant Mike Davis to a full-time position.