Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said he contributed $2.6 million of his own money to the Tigers’ revenue-share budget, according to an interview with the Memphis Commercial Appeal cited by Fox News.
Hardaway said the university did not ask him to make the contribution. His reported $2.6 million payment, combined with other funds, brought Memphis’ revenue-share total to $9 million, the Commercial Appeal reported. Hardaway’s salary for the season is $2.9 million, according to the report.
The contribution comes as the Tigers prepare for a season with nine transfer-portal newcomers. Memphis is coming off a 13-19 record, its worst since Hardaway became head coach in 2018. The team is aiming to return to the NCAA Tournament, according to the source report.
Hardaway is under contract through April 2028. He described the stakes of the season in comments to the Commercial Appeal, saying he did not want to fail in consecutive years.
The reported contribution and the team’s revenue-share total are based on the Commercial Appeal’s account; the source material does not include independent documentation of the figures.
