University of Memphis Athletics
Penny Hardaway directed the Tigers to a fifth-place finish in the American Athletic Conference.
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Hardaway is a finalist for Joe B. Hall coaching award
Mar 13, 2019 | Men's Basketball
Tigers' first-year coach is among 12 in the running for the national award
BOSTON, Mass. – University of Memphis first-year men's basketball coach Penny Hardaway is one of 12 finalists for the 2019 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year Award.
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Hardaway, the former All-American at then-Memphis State and an NBA All-Star, has led the Tigers to a 19-12 record this season. The UofM opens play in the American Athletic Conference Championship Thursday at 2 p.m. against Tulane at FedExForum.
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The award is for first-year head coaches and named in the honor of Joe B. Hall, who was given the task of following the legendary Adolph Rupp. In his first season at the University of Kentucky, Hall finished 20-8, won the SEC and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.
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From 1972 to 1985 Hall would win two-thirds of his games (297-100), receive four SEC Coach of the Year honors and win a National Championship (1978). Along with the 1978 title, Hall also guided Kentucky to a runner-up finish to UCLA in the 1975 NCAA tournament, a Final Four appearance in the 1984 NCAA Tournament and an NIT championship in 1976. He won 8 Southeastern Conference regular season championships and one Southeastern Conference tournament championship (1984).
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Hall is one of only three men to win an NCAA championship as a player (1949- Kentucky) and coach (1978- Kentucky). The only others to achieve this feat are Bob Knight and Dean Smith.
The recipient of the 2019 Joe B. Hall award will be announced on April 5 at the College Insider Awards Event, in Minneapolis, site of the 2019 NCAA division I basketball championship.
2019 JOE B. HALL AWARD FINALISTS
Griff Aldrich, Longwood
Jeremy Ballard, FIU
David Cox, Rhode Island
Darian DeVries, Drake
Penny Hardaway, Memphis
Tavaras Hardy, Loyola
Justin Hutson, Fresno State
Dusty May, FAU
Chris Ogden, UT Arlington
Richie Riley, South Alabama
Sam Scholl, San Diego
Travis Steele, Xavier
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Hardaway, the former All-American at then-Memphis State and an NBA All-Star, has led the Tigers to a 19-12 record this season. The UofM opens play in the American Athletic Conference Championship Thursday at 2 p.m. against Tulane at FedExForum.
Â
The award is for first-year head coaches and named in the honor of Joe B. Hall, who was given the task of following the legendary Adolph Rupp. In his first season at the University of Kentucky, Hall finished 20-8, won the SEC and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals.
Â
From 1972 to 1985 Hall would win two-thirds of his games (297-100), receive four SEC Coach of the Year honors and win a National Championship (1978). Along with the 1978 title, Hall also guided Kentucky to a runner-up finish to UCLA in the 1975 NCAA tournament, a Final Four appearance in the 1984 NCAA Tournament and an NIT championship in 1976. He won 8 Southeastern Conference regular season championships and one Southeastern Conference tournament championship (1984).
Â
Hall is one of only three men to win an NCAA championship as a player (1949- Kentucky) and coach (1978- Kentucky). The only others to achieve this feat are Bob Knight and Dean Smith.
The recipient of the 2019 Joe B. Hall award will be announced on April 5 at the College Insider Awards Event, in Minneapolis, site of the 2019 NCAA division I basketball championship.
2019 JOE B. HALL AWARD FINALISTS
Griff Aldrich, Longwood
Jeremy Ballard, FIU
David Cox, Rhode Island
Darian DeVries, Drake
Penny Hardaway, Memphis
Tavaras Hardy, Loyola
Justin Hutson, Fresno State
Dusty May, FAU
Chris Ogden, UT Arlington
Richie Riley, South Alabama
Sam Scholl, San Diego
Travis Steele, Xavier
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