The Texas Southern men’s basketball program has been dealt a blow after word broke Tuesday morning that veteran coach Johnny Jones resigned to take an assistant coaching role at his alma mater, LSU.
In an exclusive interview with the Defender, Jones said recently hired LSU coach Will Wade officially offered him the job Monday night. Jones was in his new LSU office on Tuesday morning.
Jones, of course, played for LSU, was an assistant coach under Dale Brown, and then served as the head coach of the Tigers 2012 to 2017. It has been expected since last week that Jones would move on to LSU, but it took days to finalize the deal.
“Just an opportunity to return home in place that I’ve been for 22 years, a campus I’ve been to for 22 years as a player, assistant coach, and head coach,” Jones said. “Looking at the landscape and the way that things are. A chance to compete and hopefully take care of some unfinished business I have here from a player’s standpoint, assistant coaches’ standpoint. The goal is to try to win a national championship.
“There is an opportunity and a window here to try to accomplish that goal. I’m fortunate enough to be a part of that.”
Jones departs TSU after eight seasons in which he guided the program to new heights with four NCAA Tournament appearances, which included the program’s second-ever Tournament win in 2021. He guided the program to three consecutive SWAC Championships and NCAA Tournament berths, and the Tigers played in nine straight postseasons during his tenure.
Jones posted a record of 135-125 overall and 90-49 in SWAC play at TSU.
This story will be updated soon with more from Jones and Texas Southern.
