Tiger fans wore their blue and packed the lobby of Laurie Walton Center on the Park Avenue campus Tuesday. Penny Hardaway walked down the stairs, and fans began to cheer and clap as the university officially introduced him as the next basketball coach for the Memphis Tigers.
M. David Rudd, the University of Memphis president, said the standard of Memphis basketball will not be lowered. Reportedly, the coaching change was a result of a loss of money this season. Attendance was also a struggle for the Tigers this year. Rudd said basketball lost $4.7 million and season ticket sales were low selling 4,115.
“From a financial standpoint, we need our fans back, and we need them back now,” Rudd said.
Tom Bowen, the U of M athletic director, said he was confident Hardaway would be completely committed to the city and the University.
“He’s a champion,” Bowen said. “Everywhere he’s been, everything he’s done he’s done his best. He has the ability to do the extraordinary every day.”
Hardaway described his return to the U of M as a family reunion multiple times throughout the event.
“Tiger basketball, no disrespect to the Grizzlies, is number one in the city," Hardaway said. "It was here before the Grizzlies came. When the Tigers won back in the day, everybody was happy. When the Tigers lost, everybody was sad. To see all the faces smiling again, it’s like a great family reunion."
Hardaway said he sees the uniqueness of this head coaching job and is excited to be the leader of the team.
“As a Memphian, what makes the job unique is that you were born into watching the Tigers," Hardaway said. "It’s in your DNA. The great teams in the past made you really fall in love with the team, so when you carry that all the way up until now and have an opportunity as a coach to coach the university that I went to and you remember all that, it’s a proud moment to be here.”
Hardaway is ready to bring fans to the FedExForum.
“It was kind of unfair for those guys (this year’s basketball team) for nobody to show up,” Hardaway said. “Those days are over…I am ready to get this team back to the glory days. When the building was packed, the student section was in attendance and winning basketball games.”
Hardaway said he wants to see students actively involved with Tiger basketball.
“I want the student body to see me as a coach that wants to see them in the games,” Hardaway said. “I will always support them. They will hear a lot from me in the season because I am aware that they are the heartbeat along with the fans to come out. We want them in there crazy, and to support us.”
Hardaway has ideas to help engage students in the program.
“I already have some things in mind that I want to meet with the student body as well, host some concerts and host some things," Hardaway said. "That way, they can come out and we can talk to them and let them know we need them behind us."
Tigers’ leading scorer Jeremiah Martin said he was excited to see Hardaway named as head coach and also said it is a “blessing” to play under him.
“It’s always great having guys here from the hometown,” Martin said. “He don’t want to see nothing but winning.”
Martin, a native Memphian, said he was excited for the energy Hardaway would bring back to the forum.
“I used to come to the games back when the stands were filled,” Martin said. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to come here.”
Freshman Jamal Johnson said he has looked up to Hardaway for a long time and watched videos of him.
“I see this magnificent player," Johnson said. "He’s a really good player.”
Johnson said the Tigers found out Monday he would be the coach. Johnson also said he expects most of the team to return.
“He said he wanted to focus more on winning…trying to win the conference and get to the NCAA and win that,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he also hopes the fans turn out next year.
“Coach Penny, he’s from Memphis,” Johnson said. “I think he’ll bring a lot of energy. Fans will come in with a lot more energy. It will be a great atmosphere.”
Penny Hardaway and Tom Bowen hold up Hardaway’s jersey from when he played at Memphis State University. Hardaway wore number 25 as a guard for Memphis.
