Memphis Basketball Dismisses Four Coaches from Penny Hardaway’s Staff

Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway made headlines on Wednesday with the announcement that four staff members have been dismissed, a decision that comes just two months before the new season begins.

The assistant coaches let go are Rick Stansbury, Faragi Phillips, and Jamie Rosser, along with special adviser Demetrius Dyson. Both Hardaway and the University of Memphis did not provide specific reasons for these firings.

In his statement, Hardaway expressed gratitude towards the coaches. “I want to thank Rick, Faragi, Jamie, and Demetrius for their service to the University of Memphis and our basketball program,” he 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.”

Following these changes, the only remaining coaches listed on the program’s website are Dwight Boyd, the chief of staff, and Jordan VerHulst, the director of scouting. Additionally, trainer Darrell Turner and physical therapist Kevin Olds will continue their roles from the previous season.

This coaching shake-up is just one part of a busy offseason for Hardaway and the Memphis basketball program. The Tigers will see significant roster changes, bringing back only one player from last season. The program experienced considerable turnover, with seven players transferring out, David Jones departing for the NBA draft, and other players exhausting their eligibility.

In response to these losses, the Tigers are set to welcome eight Division I transfers to the team. Among the incoming players are talented guards PJ Haggerty from Tulsa, Colby Rogers from Wichita State, and Tyrese Hunter from Texas. In addition, ESPN 100 freshman Jared Harris will join the squad.

This announcement adds pressure on Hardaway during a crucial season that could define his future with the Tigers. Last season started promisingly; Memphis was 15-2 and reached as high as No. 10 in the AP poll. However, they struggled down the stretch, going 7-8 and ultimately missing the NCAA tournament.

Over his six seasons at Memphis, Hardaway has led the team to the NCAA tournament twice, achieving a first-round victory against Boise State in the 2022 tournament.

Hardaway’s tenure has been marked by challenges beyond just team performance. The program faced an 18-month NCAA investigation related to alleged violations involving former player James Wiseman and other recruits. An independent assessment ultimately concluded that Hardaway didn’t breach NCAA rules due to his lengthy philanthropic efforts in Memphis.

Last summer, the coach was suspended for three games by the NCAA for recruiting violations and failing to uphold head coach responsibility rules during another investigation.

Compounding matters, senior Malcolm Dandridge missed the final five games of last season as the University conducted an inquiry into his eligibility.