Memphis is one of those programs that should be really good every year. It’s in a major basketball market where the Tigers are everyone’s favorites.
Yet the program keeps running into issues. Gene Bartow did a great job but left for Illinois and then UCLA.
Tony Yates resigned under pressure with NCAA allegations, Dana Kirk went to prison, Larry Finch was forced out, Tic Price was forced out over allegations of sexual impropriety, Johnny Jones was a one-year interim, John Calipari was brilliant but the school saw the 2007-08 season entirely vacated by the NCAA, Josh Pastner was erratic and showed some odd behavior before leaving for Georgia Tech, Tubby Smith was a disastrous fit and was fired after two seasons, after which Memphis hired Penny Hardaway.