An HBCU men’s basketball coach who led his team to one of 2025’s best March Madness moments is moving on.
Tony Madlock, who guided Alabama State to a memorable First Four victory in last year’s NCAA tournament, has resigned from the Hornets’ head coach position.
According to Jeff Goodman of Field of 68, Madlock will become the associate head coach at the University of Memphis, where NBA legend Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway is the head coach. Madlock was a Tigers’ assistant from 2018 to 2021 before taking the Alabama State job.
Alabama State head coach Tony Madlock has resigned after four seasons and will join Penny Hardaway’s staff at Memphis, source told @TheFieldOf68.
Madlock is from Memphis and was an assistant with Penny from 2018-21.
Madlock won the SWAC tourney and went to the NCAA tourney…
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 29, 2026
Madlock, a Memphis native coached the Hornets for four seasons, compiling a 51-80 record, but the 2024-25 season was the most memorable as ASU won the SWAC conference tournament as the No. 4 seed, then stunned Saint Francis (PA) 70-68 on a Hail Mary inbounds play in the First Four.
