Memphis basketball hires former NBA, Kentucky strength coach Todd Forcier | Sources

Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway has hired Todd Forcier as the program's next strength and conditioning coach, multiple sources told the Commercial Appeal.

Sources, who requested anonymity because an official announcement has not yet been made, said Forcier is expected to officially join the staff Monday. He succeeds Darby Rich, who left the Tigers in June for the same position at Texas.

Forcier comes to Memphis after spending 13 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, most recently as the NBA franchise's head strength coach. His last season with the Blazers was 2022-23. Forcier also worked for Kentucky (2007-10), Syracuse (2002-07) and Dayton (1998-2002) as the basketball strength and conditioning coach.

A graduate of Washington State, Forcier also spent time on staff at UNLV (1997-98) and interned with the Seattle SuperSonics. His brother, Chad Forcier, was a Grizzlies assistant coach (2018-19) and is currently an assistant coach for Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer.

Forcier is the newest addition to Hardaway's staff. Hardaway has hired Mike Davis as an assistant coach, Andre Turner as director of player/alumni relations, Cedric Prowell as equipment manager, and promoted Marcus Nunnally to director of scouting.

MEMPHIS BASKETBALL: New Tigers reveal biggest takeaways from summer workouts

The new-look Tigers open the 2024-25 season against Missouri (Nov. 4) at FedExForum.

In addition to a number of changes on his coaching staff, Hardaway has nine newcomers on scholarship (guards Tyrese Hunter, PJ Haggerty, Colby Rogers, Baraka Okojie, PJ Carter and Jared Harris, and big men Dain Dainja, Moussa Cisse and Tyreek Smith) and two new walk-ons (guard Ragi Phillips and forward Damarien Yates). Forward Nicholas Jourdain and guard Noah Stansbury are both back from last season.

The Tigers currently has three open scholarships remaining.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball hires former NBA, Kentucky strength coach Todd Forcier | Sources