University of Memphis Athletics
Hardaway Finalizes Coaching Staff with Addition of Steve Wright
Apr 17, 2026 | Men's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis men's basketball head coach Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway has finalized his coaching staff announcing the addition of assistant coach Steve Wright on Friday.
"We are excited to welcome Steve and his family to Memphis," said Hardaway. "Steve possesses valuable experience at multiple levels and will bring a diverse perspective to our staff. Steve is a proven winner with a championship pedigree and we look forward to his positive impact on our program."
Wright arrives in Memphis after spending a year on Dennis Gates' staff at Missouri. Wright helped guide Missouri to 20 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2025-26 season. Under Wright's tutelage, Missouri wing Mark Mitchell earned All-SEC Second Team and NABC All-Central District honors.
Prior to joining the Gates staff at Missouri, Wright spent the previous two seasons at Duquesne as an assistant coach. During his time with the Dukes, the team won the 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship, advanced to its first NCAA Tournament since 1977 and earned its first NCAA Tournament win since 1969. Overall, Duquesne won 38 games in his two seasons on campus.
Wright broke into the Division I ranks as a member of Gates' Cleveland State staff in 2019-20 as video coordinator before serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater of Bowling Green for three seasons.
Wright also has had successful tenures at the high school, junior college and AAU ranks during his career.
Prior to his time at CSU, Wright was the head coach at Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 2017-19. While at PHS, he mentored McDonald's All-American and NBA draft pick Darius Bazley, the most recent player to go from high school to the NBA as he was selected 23rd overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019.
In 2018, Wright was named the Greater Miami Coach of the Year, while also taking home District 16 Coach of the Year honors.
From 2013 to 2016, Wright spent three seasons as assistant coach at Columbus State Community College. In his final season with the Cougars, Wright helped guide CSCC to a 25-8 record and a trip to the NJCAA Division II Tournament. Furthermore, he served as an assistant coach at the University of the Cumberlands (NAIA Division I) in Williams, Kentucky, in 2012-13.
Wright's coaching career also includes stints on the AAU circuit. He was head coach for 17U King James AAU (Akron, Ohio) from 2014-16, and assistant director/head coach for Under Armour's C2K AAU 16U (Columbus, Ohio) from 2017-19.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Wright played at Bowling Green from 2003 to 2006. The point guard saw action in 78 games with 64 starts, leading BGSU in assists and steals in 2003-04 and steals again in 2004-05. Overall, Wright averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals as a Falcon, before completing his career at Northern Kentucky, where he was an NCAA Division II All-American in 2007.
Wright went on to play first-team professional basketball in Germany and Finland from 2007 to 2011.
He earned his liberal arts degree from BGSU in 2006 and his master's degree in teaching from the University of the Cumberlands in 2015.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
"We are excited to welcome Steve and his family to Memphis," said Hardaway. "Steve possesses valuable experience at multiple levels and will bring a diverse perspective to our staff. Steve is a proven winner with a championship pedigree and we look forward to his positive impact on our program."
Wright arrives in Memphis after spending a year on Dennis Gates' staff at Missouri. Wright helped guide Missouri to 20 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance during the 2025-26 season. Under Wright's tutelage, Missouri wing Mark Mitchell earned All-SEC Second Team and NABC All-Central District honors.
Prior to joining the Gates staff at Missouri, Wright spent the previous two seasons at Duquesne as an assistant coach. During his time with the Dukes, the team won the 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship, advanced to its first NCAA Tournament since 1977 and earned its first NCAA Tournament win since 1969. Overall, Duquesne won 38 games in his two seasons on campus.
Wright broke into the Division I ranks as a member of Gates' Cleveland State staff in 2019-20 as video coordinator before serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater of Bowling Green for three seasons.
Wright also has had successful tenures at the high school, junior college and AAU ranks during his career.
Prior to his time at CSU, Wright was the head coach at Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 2017-19. While at PHS, he mentored McDonald's All-American and NBA draft pick Darius Bazley, the most recent player to go from high school to the NBA as he was selected 23rd overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019.
In 2018, Wright was named the Greater Miami Coach of the Year, while also taking home District 16 Coach of the Year honors.
From 2013 to 2016, Wright spent three seasons as assistant coach at Columbus State Community College. In his final season with the Cougars, Wright helped guide CSCC to a 25-8 record and a trip to the NJCAA Division II Tournament. Furthermore, he served as an assistant coach at the University of the Cumberlands (NAIA Division I) in Williams, Kentucky, in 2012-13.
Wright's coaching career also includes stints on the AAU circuit. He was head coach for 17U King James AAU (Akron, Ohio) from 2014-16, and assistant director/head coach for Under Armour's C2K AAU 16U (Columbus, Ohio) from 2017-19.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Wright played at Bowling Green from 2003 to 2006. The point guard saw action in 78 games with 64 starts, leading BGSU in assists and steals in 2003-04 and steals again in 2004-05. Overall, Wright averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals as a Falcon, before completing his career at Northern Kentucky, where he was an NCAA Division II All-American in 2007.
Wright went on to play first-team professional basketball in Germany and Finland from 2007 to 2011.
He earned his liberal arts degree from BGSU in 2006 and his master's degree in teaching from the University of the Cumberlands in 2015.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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