The University of Memphis has received national attention over the years for its athletic programs, the most notable of which is its men’s basketball team. In recent years, the Tigers have been ranked as high as number one on college basketball polls and are a frequent top contender in the NCAA Championship tournament, having advanced to the Final Four. The men’s football team has been invited to three bowl games in the last four years and is a perennial challenger for the Conference USA title. Additionally, the U of M fields men’s teams in baseball, cross country, golf, rifle, soccer, tennis and track and field.

The U of M also offers nine competitive women’s athletic programs: basketball, cross country, golf, rifle, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball.

For the 2007-08 academic year, 166 out of 331 (50 percent) of the U of M’s student-athletes achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. An additional 19 members of the cheer and pompon squads were inducted into the Tiger 3.0 Club. Fourteen student athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.

The University of Memphis fields competitive cheer squads in the Coed and All-Girl Divisions as well as a competitive Dance Team. The Coed squad has ranked in the top four at the UCA National Collegiate Championships for the past three years. The All-Girl squad, formed in 2002, recently captured the 2008 National Championship to add to its 2004 title. The squad was runner-up in 2003 and 2005, placed fourth in 2007 and third in 2006. One of the most talented dance teams in the nation, the Memphis pom squad has amassed 12 National Titles over the years, including its most recent title, which was the 2008 National Dance Team Hip-Hop Championship. (National Titles - 1986-94, 2000, 2007 and 2008).  

For those who enjoy athletics at a more leisurely pace, the U of M offers a variety of intramural and club sports. These offerings include bowling, table tennis, Frisbee, golf, tennis, volleyball, racquetball, dodge ball, kickball, basketball and flag football.

The University’s Student Recreation Center has two full size gyms; indoor and outdoor 50-meter swimming pools, each with one 3-meter diving platform and two 1-meter springboards; a combat room for boxing, wrestling, judo and karate; a nautilus circuit weight room; large men's/women's locker rooms with over 1000 lockers; nine handball/racquetball courts; 21 outdoor tennis courts; one multi-use field; two classrooms; an outdoor equipment room; and a recreational equipment room. The facility was renovated in 1999 and the Finch Center, home of the men’s basketball team, was added in 2000.