Hardaway is a finalist for Joe B. Hall coaching award

Tigers' first-year coach is among 12 in the running for the national award

Penny Hardaway directed the Tigers to a fifth-place finish in the American Athletic Conference.BOSTON, Mass. – University of Memphis first-year men's basketball coach Penny Hardaway is one of 12 finalists for the 2019 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year Award.

Hardaway, the former All-American at then-Memphis State and an NBA All-Star, has led the Tigers to a 19-12 record this season. The UofM opens play in the American Athletic Conference Championship Thursday at 2 p.m. against Tulane at FedExForum.

The award is for first-year head coaches and named in the honor of Joe B. Hall, who was given the task of following…