Independent panel: Memphis Tigers basketball coach Penny Hardaway did not violate NCAA rules in providing benefits to prospective student-athletes

An Independent Accountability Resolution Process hearing panel concluded that Memphis Tigers basketball coach Penny Hardaway didn't violate NCAA rules when he provided benefits to three prospective student-athletes because of his long-standing philanthropy in Memphis, according to a decision released on Tuesday.

The IARP panel ruled that Memphis failed to monitor the education and activities of an athletics booster, provided impermissible extra benefits, conducted impermissible recruiting activities with prospective student-athletes and failed to cooperate with the investigative process by delaying the production of requested documents.

The Tigers were placed on three years' probation through Sept. 26, 2025, and fined $5,000, plus 0.25% of their men's basketball budget, after the IARP concluded Memphis committed four Level II violations and five Level III violations.

Memphis cannot appeal the ruling under IARP rules.

The Tigers were facing four Level I and two Level II rules violations after an 18-month investigation into the program. NCAA enforcement staff had alleged that Hardaway «failed to demonstrate that he promoted an atmosphere of compliance within the men's basketball program» and failed to monitor his staff, and accused the university of lack of institutional control.

Hardaway was accused of being involved in one Level I violation and two Level II violations.

The school acknowledged in November 2019 that Hardaway, before he became the Tigers' coach, had provided $11,500 in moving expenses for star center James Wiseman and his family to relocate from Nashville to Memphis in the summer of 2017. At the time, Hardaway was Wiseman's coach on the Nike EYBL circuit and later coached him at Memphis East High School.

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