Memphis basketball fires 4 Penny Hardaway coaches.

[{"selector":"#anim-66978f0b-749b-4fff-b7be-c8ae03fa0906 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-41.2711148380849%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Two months before the season, Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway fired four staff members on Wednesday.

[{"selector":"#anim-b7342ec4-5580-4ad0-8ae4-b506542e4a21 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.90624987200394%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Hardaway will not welcome back assistant coaches Rick Stansbury, Faragi Phillips, Jamie Rosser, or special adviser Demetrius Dyson this season. Hardaway and the school did not explain the firings.

[{"selector":"#anim-31c96cb4-e5bc-41f9-b032-c02bf8e64cdc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-23.480494473828447%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] "I want to thank Rick, Faragi, Jamie and Demetrius for their service to the University of Memphis and our basketball program," Hardaway stated in a post.

[{"selector":"#anim-120199e4-c50b-4216-930e-18f4764ef071 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.40039050607033%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] "I took the painful decision to change our staff, but these are terrific coaches I've worked with closely for several seasons.

[{"selector":"#anim-9e23a03b-27c0-406a-997b-6302f5ee05d4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Although the timing is poor, I want to give this squad the best chance of winning the American Conference and progressing to the NCAA Tournament. We'll fill the staff fast as the season approaches."

[{"selector":"#anim-5443be51-2eda-433b-afca-2179cea0ba8d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-37.483108044335886%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] After the four coaches left, the program's website only lists Dwight Boyd, the head of staff, and Jordan VerHulst, the director of scouting.

[{"selector":"#anim-6a4aad16-3e4f-41a0-b8fe-5c7afd01c1c7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.90624987200394%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Last year's trainer Darrell Turner and physical therapist Kevin Olds returned.

[{"selector":"#anim-9321a16b-3713-44f0-bbac-c55c72c0a37c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-27.92687864335636%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] The staff turnover continues Hardaway and Memphis' busy summer, which returns only one player from last season.