Memphis’ Penny Hardaway adds former Duke, Louisville assistant Nolan Smith, former Indiana coach Mike Davis to staff

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway announced the hiring of assistant coaches Nolan Smith and Mike Davis on Wednesday, which happened just over two weeks ago. separation Four staff members have been hired on the eve of his seventh season. Smith and Davis are high-profile hires and will be the latest in a list of assistants to work under Hardaway since he took the Memphis job in 2018.

Both went to the Final Four as coaches, but did not get the job after the 2023-24 season. Now, they will work together with Hardaway, who faces Increasing pressure Entering the 2024-25 campaign.

Smith excelled at Duke from 2007-11 and was a Blue Devils assistant from 2016-22 under Mike Krzyzewski before joining the Louisville staff in 2022. Though Louisville was his hometown school, the jump proved unfortunate as the Cardinals bottomed under head coach Kenny Payne during Smith’s two years on staff.

Davis completed a six-year tenure as head coach at Detroit Mercy that ends in 2023-24 after the Titans posted a 1-31 record. He replaced Bob Knight as Indiana’s head coach and led the Hoosiers to the 2002 national championship game. Davis served as head coach at UAB and Texas Southern, leading both programs to Big Dance appearances before his tenure at Detroit Mercy.

Collectively, the two will help complete Hardaway’s staff. Purges at odd times Earlier this month, those leaving Hardaway’s staff include Rick Stansbury, the former Mississippi State and Western Kentucky coach who is with the Tigers through the 2023-24 season as Hardaway’s lead assistant.

The announcement of Davis and Smith’s hiring comes less than a month before the Tigers play an exhibition game with North Carolina and comes at a tumultuous time for the program. Memphis is under the NCAA’s investigation for the third time during Hardaway’s tenure, this time over allegations of academic fraud. An anonymous person The letter was accepted The university’s alleged cheating also came to light this month, sparking greater scrutiny of the program.

Additionally, the Tigers are led by a new athletic director, Ed Scott, who is taking on more responsibility hands on approach The men’s basketball program has more players than Laird Veach, who is now at Missouri. Memphis is also reportedly among the teams participating in the program. The Pac-12 is considering in its continual expansion.

As for the team, Memphis returns only one scholarship player from the 2023-24 team, which rose as high as No. 10 in the AP Poll during a 15-2 start before missing the NCAA Tournament with a 22-10 record.

Despite the chaos, there is still reason for optimism on the court for Memphis in 2024-25. The Tigers secured 247Sports’ No. 11 ranked transfer class, including three of the CBS Sports Top-80 Transfers. They are likely the preseason favorites to win the A.A.C.