According to a decision announced Tuesday, an independent accountability resolution process hearing will allow Memphis Tigers basketball coach Penny Hardaway to identify three future student-athletes for his longtime philanthropic work in Memphis. concluded that it did not violate NCAA rules when it offered benefits to
The IARP committee finds that Memphis does not oversee the education and activities of track and field boosters, provides unauthorized supplemental benefits, conducts unauthorized recruitment activities with prospective student-athletes, and delays the production of required documentation. ruled that he did not cooperate with the investigative process.
After the IARP concluded that Memphis committed four Level II violations and five Level III violations, the Tigers were placed on three years of probation through September 26, 2025 and given $5,000 and a portion of the men’s basketball budget. A fine of 0.25% was imposed.
Memphis cannot appeal a decision made under the IARP Rules.
“Now that IARP has reached a final decision, we are ready to turn the page and continue to support coaches and student-athletes on the court and in the classroom,” said Laird, Memphis vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. Veatch said in a statement released on Tuesday. “As stated in our response to the allegation notice, we are and will continue to actively work to strengthen our athletic compliance infrastructure. Thanks to IARP for the feedback.”
The Tigers were facing four Level I violations and two Level II rule violations after an 18-month investigation into the program. The NCAA’s executive staff argued that Hardaway “failed to demonstrate that he promoted an atmosphere of compliance within the men’s basketball program,” and that he failed to monitor his staff, accusing the university of lacking institutional controls. accused of being
Hardaway was charged with being involved in one Level I violation and two Level II violations.
In November 2019, before Hardaway became the Tigers’ coach, the school acknowledged that it provided $11,500 to help star center James Weisman and his family move from Nashville to Memphis in the summer of 2017. rice field. At the time, Hardaway belonged to Wiseman. Nike He coached at EYBL He circuit and later Memphis He coached at East High School.
Hardaway, a former Memphis basketball star, was considered a booster by the NCAA because he donated $1 million to the school in 2008 to build the Sports Hall of Fame. said he didn’t know that.
The NCAA ruled Wiseman ineligible because it deemed his family had received inadequate benefits. Weisman sued his NCAA, and a Shelby County judge issued an order barring him from playing. Following the judge’s ruling, the NCAA issued the following statement:
IARP said Memphis officials allowed Wiseman to play in the November 5, 2019 game despite knowing he was ineligible. [Wiseman] was deemed ineligible to play. ”
Wiseman, who was a prospect for the No. 1 class in 2019, averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in three games for the Tigers. He later dropped his lawsuit against the NCAA, declared him ineligible, and applied for reinstatement.The NCAA later handed him his 12-game suspension and upheld his suspension on appeal. .
The 7-foot-1 center Wiseman left Memphis in December 2019 in preparation for the NBA Draft. He was drafted by the Warriors with his No. 2 pick in his 2020 NBA Draft from Golden State, averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds as a rookie last season.
“The hearing panel concluded that the head coach’s philanthropic involvement in the Memphis community began before he became an athletic booster in 2008 and before he was hired by Memphis as head coach in 2018.” The ruling noted the numerous gifts and financial support the head coach provided to many members of the Memphis community from his time in the NBA until he became head coach of Memphis, including in person or through three Support provided to the families of former candidates includes: student-athletes who enrolled in Memphis and participated in men’s basketball;
“Based on the record of the incident and information obtained at the hearing, the hearing determined that the benefits provided by the head coach to the three future student-athletes were not incentives for recruitment,” the hearing said. Even before he became an athletic booster, the head coach had a long history of philanthropic work, especially for the economically disadvantaged youth of the Memphis community. has determined that it is generally available to all prospective students of Memphis, as well as student-athletes and therefore permitted.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, Hardaway thanked Tigers supporters, saying, “We’ve finally arrived at the end of a very difficult time and I couldn’t be more grateful.” I would also like to thank their families, as our coaches and support staff for staying focused on what we can control as this process drags on. Trust me, this is not easy. But this group always had faith.
“Our college and athletic leaders worked tirelessly to help present the facts of our case. Now is the time to put all this behind us Brighter days lie ahead and we look forward to sharing our future successes as one Memphis I can’t wait.”
Hardaway, who has an 85-43 record in four seasons, led the Tigers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March.
Memphis kicks off the season at Vanderbilt on November 7th.
