Hardaway and Harbaugh: More similar than you think

On March 20, 2018, a school 722 miles south of the University of Michigan introduced a new head basketball coach. This new coach was hired to be the savior of a struggling program with a rich history. Has he saved Memphis Tigers basketball? Not completely. Can he still do so? Absolutely.

On December 30, 2014, a school 722 miles north of the University of Memphis introduced a new head football coach. This new coach was hired to be the savior of a struggling program with a rich history. Has he saved Michigan Wolverines football? Yes. Did people always think he would? Absolutely not.

Why Hardaway and Harbaugh Were the Right Hires

After one of the best coaches in the history of Memphis basketball left, Memphis hired an up-and-coming coach with the potential to continue the program’s success, former Calipari assistant Josh Pastner. However, it became abundantly clear he lacked the necessary experience to excel. So, Memphis pivoted to one of the most experienced coaches in college basketball, which almost became a death sentence.

Memphis basketball was trapped in a black hole of irrelevance under Tubby Smith. Tubby’s 41-26 record over two seasons wasn’t horrible. It was worse. Uninspiring. There was no sign of improvement. No hope for Tigers fans to cling to. No sense of Tubby Smith loving the city he coached in. No sense of him being the right coach to take this program to its deserved heights.

That’s why Memphis couldn’t get its next hire wrong. It had to be someone who represents not only the best of the program but also the best of the city. Someone who loves Memphis. Someone who is Memphis.

The same can be said about Michigan football. Lloyd Carr was Michigan’s best coach since the legendary Bo Schembechler. After he retired in 2007, Michigan hired an up-and-coming coach with the potential to continue the program’s success, former Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez. However, it became abundantly clear he sucked. His 15-22 record and .405 winning percentage was the lowest of any coach in the history of Michigan football. To make matters worse, he went 0–3 against Ohio State and 0–3 against Michigan State.

While Pastner wasn’t great, he wasn’t Rich Rodriguez. Nevertheless, he was fired after two seasons leaving Michigan in a similar position as Memphis. Michigan’s new hire Brady Hoke at least had some familiarity with the program. Hoke was the defensive end and defensive line coach from 1996-2002. But like Tubby Smith, Hoke’s 31-20 record over four seasons was average at best. The program lacked direction. The fans became apathetic.

That’s why Michigan couldn’t get its next hire wrong. It had to be someone who represents not only the best of the program but also the best of the state. Someone who loves Michigan. Someone who is Michigan.

For Memphis, enter Penny Hardaway. The city’s prodigal son who electrified stadiums and captivated a nation returned to coach the program in the city he always called his own.

For Michigan, enter Jim Harbaugh. One of Michigan’s best quarterbacks who excelled as a player and a coach at the highest level returned to coach the program in the state he always called his own.

Early Years

“We want all the smoke.” Penny Hardaway unabashedly pronounced this to the world early on.

At the end of Jim Harbaugh’s introductory press conference, someone asked him “Who’s got it better than us?” Harbaugh responded “Nooooobody!” In the beginning, that wasn’t true for either coach.

Hardaway and Harbaugh inherited rosters that weren’t their own. Yet, both attempted to lay the foundation of their programs. Their first season wasn’t anything special. But there were signs of hope. Memphis went to the NIT and lost in the 2nd round. Michigan won the Citrus Bowl against traditional SEC powerhouse the Florida Gators.

But in the next few seasons, the bravado of both coaches backfired. Harbaugh’s best chance to prove critics wrong early on was in 2016. Michigan ranked 7th entering the year. 1st team All-American Jabril Peppers headlined the best defense in college football. Running back De’Veon Smith and quarterback Wilton Speight led an offense centered around its running attack. Though the Wolverines lost to Iowa the week before, Michigan traveled to Columbus, Ohio in late November with everything to play for. A birth to the Big 10 Championship Game and a chance to play in the College Football Playoff were in reach.

Though J.T. Barrett looked short – I’m biased – the refs didn’t agree. Michigan lost 27-30. No College Football Playoff. No bowl game win either since Michigan lost in the Orange Bowl to Florida State.

In the grand scheme of things, that season should’ve been viewed as a positive. Two years after Harbaugh was hired, Michigan was a 4th down spot away from a likely Big 10 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. But to many, another loss to Ohio State and another year seeing the Buckeyes win the Big 10 meant failure. If only Michigan fans knew what was to come.

29-16 over the next four seasons, which included a 2-4 2020 season and more losses to Ohio State, led to many wanting Harbaugh’s head.

Considering the lofty expectations Penny brought upon himself and his teams, the next few seasons were also underwhelming. Three years into his tenure and just 63-32, the most impressive part of his resume was getting the number 1 recruiting class for 2019. No NCAA Tournament victory, let alone an appearance. No AAC title. Only 1-5 against Memphis’s biggest rival, the Houston Cougars.

Penny Fired Up, Harbaugh Under Fire

Then came January 20, 2022. This was Penny’s 4th season at Memphis. Keeping in mind his lack of success and knowing Memphis brought in another number 1 recruiting class, this season was do or die. NCAA Tournament or bust. At this point in the season, it was a bust. 9-7 through 16 games with losses to Murray State, East Carolina, Georgia, and Ole Miss to name a few left many questioning Penny.

Those questions became beliefs. On the night of January 20, Memphis faced Southern Methodist University at home hoping to end its two-game losing skid. The opposite happened. Ironically enough, 20 points from SMU’s Kendric Davis led the Mustangs to victory. This Memphis loss sent Penny to his breaking point. In his postgame interview, a question from The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins pushed him over the edge.

“Penny, have you ever lost faith that you can get this done?

Jim Harbaugh doesn’t have a similar moment. But someone did make a change.org petition to fire him. Go ahead and click the link. It’s real. The crazier part is the petition was made in 2018. This was two years before the 2-4 2020 season pushed what felt like the entire fan base to call for Harbaugh’s firing.

But patience is a virtue.

Vanquishing Their Rival

Having patience is one of the first vital lessons taught to children. Our parents told us to learn patience. If you have kids, you likely taught them the same thing. Yet, patience is the rarest character trait for all sports fans. But it’s also the most important.

Michigan fans lost their patience well before the 2021 season. Nobody thought the Wolverines would be competitive. Well, they were more than that. Michigan was 10-1 with one game left in the season: The Game.

To call The Game a rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State would be a gross misrepresentation of the previous 20 years of football between the schools. Three wins. Just three wins for Michigan from 2000-2020.

One more time for dramatic effect. Michigan had only three wins against Ohio State in 20 years.

Arguably the most storied rivalry in sports wasn’t one anymore. But that changed on a snowy afternoon in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines man-handled Ohio 42-27 in 2021. Then, Michigan man-handled and suplexed Ohio 45-23. Sure, the 2023 iteration of The Game was much closer, 30-24. However, the Wolverines maintained firm control over what is back to being arguably the best rivalry in sports. What followed each win over Ohio State were Big 10 Championships and births to the College Football Playoffs. Regardless of how the National Championship game goes against Washington, any patience Michigan fans had with Jim Harbaugh has paid off after the Maize and Blue’s win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

Penny Hardaway lost his patience with the media just as many lost patience with him. Memphis was 9-8 after the SMU loss in January 2022. Hope was gone. Though the Tigers had won four straight after that game, few expected Memphis to slay the dragon of the AAC, the Houston Cougars.

Newton’s first law of motion is “An object at rest stays at rest. An object in motion stays in motion.” An immovable object perfectly described Houston. No matter how hard Penny Hardaway and Memphis pushed, Kelvin Sampson and his team never moved. This was until February 12, 2022. Houston moved, 69-59. Then, on March 6, Houston stayed in motion losing 75-61. Though Memphis fell short in the AAC Championship game to the force that pushed back stronger, those two Tiger victories were the main reasons why Penny led his team to the NCAA Tournament.

The following season, Coach Sampson got his regular-season revenge on Memphis. But the Tigers had the last laugh. The AAC crown was on Penny Hardaway’s head, and he dethroned Houston in the process. Though Harbaugh certainly has had more success, and a deep NCAA Tournament run is still lacking on Penny’s resume, slaying the dragon cannot be overlooked.

Now, Memphis is ranked 13th in the AP Poll and has its best chance to win an NCAA Championship in over a decade. Even after taking into account both Hardaway and Harbaugh’s success, one question remains.

Is it enough for Harbaugh, Hardaway, and their public perceptions?

Both coaches love their alma mater. But both coaches love their time as a professional. Every season for the past two years has felt like Harbaugh’s last at Michigan. The former San Francisco 49ers coach has unfinished business in the NFL. Harbaugh led them to the Super Bowl only to fall short against his brother John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens. A few years later, Jim took the Michigan job. But many close to him know of his desire to win a Lombardi Trophy. Though Penny has never coached in the NBA, he was heavily linked to the Orlando Magic job in 2021. The more success he has at Memphis, the more NBA teams will look to him.

The pros care most about a coach’s ability to win. But that’s not enough for the public’s perception. All Penny has done over the past five seasons is improve. He’s figured out the formula for putting together a college basketball roster capable of NCAA Tournament success. All Harbaugh has done is win three straight Big 10 titles, make a National Championship game, and perhaps be a National Championship winner by the time you read this. But that’s not enough. Why? Well, it’s time to address the elephant in the room: the NCAA violations.

The NCAA issued a level 1 violation on Jim Harbaugh and Michigan Football for “allegedly providing false or misleading information in an investigation into recruiting infractions during the COVID-19 dead period.” Michigan is also under investigation for sign-stealing.

On June 21, 2023, Penny Hardaway was handed down a three-game suspension to start the 23′-24′ season for recruiting violations. Not to mention the issues with James Wiseman’s recruitment.

Neither coach has a clean track record. But that shouldn’t invalidate their accomplishments. After Michigan let go of Connor Stalions – the Michigan staffer accused of stealing signs – on November 3, 2023, Michigan won all of its remaining games. While Harbaugh was suspended by the Big 10 for games against Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State, he still coached the team during the week. Once he returned, Harbaugh led his team to wins over Iowa for the Big 10 title, Alabama in the Rose Bowl, and could reach the peak of college football Monday night.

Even with all Penny has been through, he coached Memphis to its first AAC Conference title and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. And more success is likely in store for Penny this year.

Regardless of one’s opinion of Hardaway or Harbaugh, nobody can deny they were the right hires for their programs.

Patience paid off with Harbaugh. Patience will pay off with Hardaway.