University of Memphis Athletics
Pastner Hired As New Tigers' Basketball Coach
Apr 06, 2009 | Men's Basketball
April 6, 2009
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis has hired Josh Pastner to take over the reins of the Tiger basketball program, Director of Athletics R.C. Johnson announced late Monday afternoon. Pastner, who completed his first season on the Memphis staff in 2008-09, will be introduced as the Tigers' new head coach on Tuesday in a 12 p.m. (CT) press conference in the Assembly Room of the Athletic Office Building.
The 31-year-old Pastner came to Memphis as an assistant coach prior to the 2008-09 campaign after a six-year stint as an assistant on Hall of Famer Lute Olson's staff at the University of Arizona (2003-08). During Pastner's time in Tucson, the Wildcats averaged 23 wins per season (137-60 record), captured two Pac-10 regular season titles, advanced to two NCAA Tournament regional finals and made six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
In his one year in the Bluff City in 2008-09, Pastner helped lead the Tigers to a 33-4 overall record, a sweep of the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles and an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance.
