3/8/2024
BALTIMORE – Tavaras Hardy announced he is stepping down today as head men’s basketball coach at Loyola University Maryland where he recently completed his sixth season on the Greyhounds’ sideline.
“Tavaras has been passionate about the well-being and success of not just our men’s basketball student-athletes, but the entire Loyola community since he came to our university,” said Donna M. Woodruff, Loyola’s assistant vice president and director of athletics. “We are grateful to him for his dedication to our men’s basketball program and everyone connected to it for the last six years. We wish Tavaras and his family all the best moving forward.”
Hardy began his tenure at Loyola in March 2018 when he became the program’s 21st head coach. He compiled a 66-110 record during his time with the Greyhounds.
“After much thought and deliberation, I have decided it is best that I step down as head men’s basketball coach at Loyola Maryland to pursue other professional opportunities,” Hardy said. “I am incredibly grateful to Donna and university leadership for giving me a chance to be a first-time head coach at a great academic institution. I am proud of many of the things we accomplished and appreciative of the players, families, coaches, staff and supporters that I have had the pleasure of working with over the past six years in Baltimore.”
He coached four All-Patriot League First Team honorees, two All-Defensive Team players, five All-Rookie Team members and three who were named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team. Hardy also recruited and coached the first player in program history to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, Memphis’ Santi Aldama (2021).
During his six-year tenure, Hardy led the Greyhounds to the title game of the 2021 Patriot League Championships and three total appearances in the quarterfinal round.
Loyola’s men’s basketball team also grew substantially in the classroom during Hardy’s tenure, and the squad’s cumulative grade-point average is now above 3.275.
Loyola will begin a national search immediately.
COURTESY LOYOLA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
