Jeff Borzello, ESPN editor-in-chief
Hours after Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway abruptly fired four staff members, the university confirmed the existence of an anonymous letter alleging serious NCAA violations within the Tigers’ program.
The letter, obtained by ESPN, alleges Hardaway’s personal involvement in potential recruiting and academic violations.
“The University of Memphis is aware of the anonymous letter, and it has been shared with the NCAA,” university spokeswoman Michele Ehrhart said in a statement to ESPN.
Hardaway announced Wednesday morning, two months before the start of the college basketball season, that he was firing assistant coaches Rick Stansbury, Faragi Phillips and Jamie Rosser, as well as special adviser Demetrius Dyson. Neither Hardaway nor the school provided a reason for the firings, with Hardaway saying in a statement that he had “made the difficult decision to take a new direction with our staff” and acknowledging that “the timing is not ideal.”
It’s unclear whether the anonymous letter is related to the firings. Some of the alleged violations predate the Memphis tenures of at least two of the fired assistants, while none of the fired coaches were named in the letter.
This week’s drama adds to the pressure on Hardaway, who is entering a crucial season for his future with the Tigers. After starting 15-2 last season and being ranked No. 10 in the AP poll, Memphis finished 7-8 and missed the NCAA Tournament.
Hardaway has made the NCAA Tournament just twice in his six seasons at the helm of his alma mater, winning a first-round game against Boise State in the 2022 tournament.
The anonymous letter is the latest off-field issue in Hardaway’s tenure. The NCAA conducted an 18-month investigation into alleged violations involving James Wiseman and other recruits; the independent accountability resolution process ultimately concluded that Hardaway did not violate NCAA rules because of his longtime philanthropy at Memphis.
Last summer, Hardaway was suspended three games by the NCAA for recruiting violations and violating the head coach accountability rules in a separate investigation.
Late last season, senior Malcolm Dandridge missed the team’s final five games while the school investigated his eligibility.
Memphis is returning just one scholarship player from last season’s team, as seven players transferred out of the program and star David Jones left early for the NBA draft. Eight Division I transfers are joining the program. Before Wednesday’s layoffs, five staff members had already left the program this offseason.
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