John Calipari is officially coming back into the Memphis spotlight, this time in bronze-and-plaque form. Organizers announced Monday that the former Tigers head coach will headline the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2026, with an induction ceremony set for Sept. 16 at the Renasant Convention Center in downtown Memphis. Tickets start at $75 for the reception and ceremony, with reserved tables also available for those who want the full VIP treatment.
Who's in the class
The full roster features Calipari alongside Chelsea Bramlett, Stubby Clapp, Phil Chamberlain, Stephen Gostkowski, Tim Harris, and Larry Kenon, as listed by Memphis Travel. The lineup stretches across eras and leagues, pairing homegrown contributors with nationally known pros. It is the kind of mix that keeps the Hall of Fame rooted in local pride while still giving out-of-towners a reason to pay attention.
Calipari's Memphis roots
Calipari is a national championship-winning coach who rebuilt the Tigers and remains a towering figure in the city's sports history, the Daily Memphian notes. The outlet framed the incoming class as being highlighted by "a national championship-winning basketball coach, two Super Bowl winners and a two-time NBA All-Star." For Memphis fans, the ceremony doubles as a walk down memory lane and a reminder that the city’s sports storylines often spill onto the national stage.
How to attend
The induction night starts with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 at the Renasant Convention Center, 266 N. Front St. Ticket options, including reserved tables, are laid out on the Hall of Fame information page. Emcees for the evening will include Daily Memphian columnist Dave Woloshin, Geoff Calkins and Jarvis Greer, according to Memphis Travel, so the commentary should be as local and lively as the guest list.
A tradition of Memphis recognition
The Hall of Fame has become a yearly chance for the city to salute its sports icons, and recent classes have featured big names such as Zach Randolph and Jarvis Greer, underscoring how wide the event’s civic reach has grown. Coverage of Zach Randolph & Jarvis Greer in the 2024 class showed how the ceremony fits into Memphis’s ongoing push to celebrate and preserve its athletic history. The 2026 group, with Calipari at the front, looks primed to keep that tradition rolling.
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