Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway says he paid $2.6 million of his own money to the Tigers' revenue share.

Penny Hardaway will contribute $2.6 million of his $2.9 million salary to the Memphis Tigers as he battles to save his job in the ninth year.

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"I've said it before, there are three great days in a coach's life...a baby's birthday, a wedding day, and a road win. And of course, the order comes down to the big win. This is a big win for Charlie Huff and the Memphis guys in their first game against the favorites of the Mountain West."

It's no secret that the upcoming college basketball season is a build-up year for Penny Hardaway and the Memphis Tigers, and the head coach is doing everything he can to make it a successful campaign, including putting nearly all of his annual salary back into the team's roster budget.

Hardaway, who is entering his ninth year as the Tigers' head coach, revealed at the American Conference's media day at Memphis' business request that he will contribute $2.6 million of his own money to Memphis' revenue share. His salary this season is $2.9 million, bringing the team's revenue share to $9 million.

"They said if you want more money you have to put your money in. So I did," Hardaway told the Commercial Appeal.

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Hardaway's addition to his program comes as the Tigers welcome nine newcomers through the transfer portal in 2026. The group is led by Washington State's Rehards Wavers and Pitt's point guard Brandin Cummings. Memphis is also hoping Nemanja Popovic, who played professionally in Poland a season ago, will take over the program this season.

The Tigers are coming off a 13-19 season, their worst record since Hardaway took over in 2018, and are looking to not only return to the NCAA Tournament this season, but also win March Madness for the second time under Hardaway.

With Memphis being a city that eats and breathes the game of basketball and consistently produces top-notch talent, the Tigers should be a dominant force in what is now a very below-average American conference.

The Tigers looked like they were building something special in 2021 by winning the NIT and then advancing to the Round of 32 during the 2022 NCAA Tournament, but they simply haven't been able to take a step forward over the past few seasons.

Hardaway is under contract until April 2028, and while the paper suggests his job is safe after this season, he's well aware of what's at stake.

"I didn't want to lose two years in a row because I already know what that means to me," Hardaway told the Commercial Appeal.

Given that Hardaway is a Memphis native and a Tiger legend himself, it feels like he has the benefit of the doubt that other coaches in his situation didn't, but one more season without an NCAA Tournament appearance could spell the end of his 901 career.

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