Darby Rich, a top strength and conditioning coach in college basketball, is back at Memphis after two years away from the program, sources tell the Tiger Blueprint. Rich spent two years in Lubbock in the same role for Texas Tech. He returns to join Penny Hardaway and the Tigers for the 2023-24 campaign.
Darby Rich’s Career
Darby Rich is approaching 30 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach, albeit in different capacities.
As a player, Rich was a member of three SEC-Championship teams at the University of Alabama, where he spent five years. Soon after his playing career concluded, Rich began coaching at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.
Early on, he took brief stints with the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and the South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAAM). Then, he spent extended tenures as a strength coach with Oklahoma (2004-09) and Texas A&M (2011-18).
Rich’s First Memphis Tenure
Darby Rich would join Penny Hardaway’s staff at Memphis as the head strength and conditioning coach in June of 2019.
He arrived to the program as one of the more successful and experienced strength coaches in college basketball. As a staffer on nine NCAA tournament teams, Rich worked with Blake Griffin (2009 1st overall pick) at Oklahoma and Robert Williams (two-time SEC DPOY), Khris Middleton (NBA Champion, three-time All-Star), and Alex Caruso (NBA Champion)at Texas A&M.
Rich’s experience and previous success would translate to Memphis, where he spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. The two teams would combine for a 41-18 record, with the Tigers winning the NIT Championship in 2021.
He would play a crucial part in developing two McDonald’s All-Americans in James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa. Respectively, they were selected 2nd and 20th in the 2020 NBA Draft. Achiuwa (2020) and Moussa Cissé (2021) each won AAC Freshman of the Year honors under Rich’s tutelage.
Upon being hired at Texas Tech, head coach Mark Adams was highly complimentary of Rich’s addition to his staff. “Coach Rich comes highly recommended by people at the professional and college level,” Adams said. “[He] brings in a lot of experience that will help our program reach the next level.”
What This Means for Memphis
Memphis has been searching for a strength and conditioning coach since Robb Hornett’s departure to Liberty after the 2021-22 season.
The return of Rich adds yet another well-respected coach to an accomplished staff, who look to lead a mostly new group of Tigers that returns just one player from last year’s roster (so far). Rich will look to build up a strong Memphis roster that includes talented players like Jordan Brown, Jahvon Quinerly, David Jones, and Caleb Mills.
If Memphis is to reach its full potential this upcoming season, it will start in the weight room under the leadership of Darby Rich. Welcome back, Coach!
