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United States Johnny Jones has dedicated over four decades to collegiate basketball, transitioning from a standout player to a decorated head coach with multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
The TSU Department of Athletics partnered with SuitMart Houston, with head men's basketball coach Johnny Jones and head golf coach supervising student-athletes during a two-plus hour interaction with the store's staff.
Johnny Jones, born on March 30, 1961, in DeRidder, Louisiana, has a career in collegiate basketball spanning over 40 years as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. His journey began at LSU, where he played for four seasons from 1980 to 1984, earning the nickname “The Bullet” and contributing to the 1981 NCAA Final Four team. After graduating with a BA in 1985, Jones immediately joined the LSU coaching staff under Dale Brown, serving for 13 seasons until 1997. During this time, he was instrumental in recruiting players such as Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Jackson, solidifying his reputation as a skilled recruiter. Jones furthered his coaching career with assistant and interim head coaching roles at Memphis and Alabama before becoming the head coach at the University of North Texas in 2001.
At North Texas, Jones led the Mean Green program for 11 seasons (2001-2012), guiding the team to two Sun Belt Conference Tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007 and 2010. His teams averaged 21 wins per year over his last six seasons there, including a school-record 24 wins in 2010. Jones’ tenure at North Texas established him as a successful program builder, consistently leading his teams to competitive performances in the Sun Belt Conference. He was recognized as a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award in 2010, which honors the nation’s top minority coach. His success at North Texas prepared him for a return to his alma mater.
In 2012, Jones returned to LSU as head coach, a position he held for five seasons until 2017. During his time at LSU, he amassed 90 wins, the most by any LSU head coach in their first five years. He led the Tigers to two postseason appearances, including the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Under his leadership, LSU produced four NBA Draft selections in three years, including the No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons in 2016. Beyond the court, Jones emphasized community engagement, participating in flood relief efforts with Shaquille O’Neal and initiating the “Johnny Jones Courts For Kids” project, which saw the establishment of a new basketball court in Baton Rouge in 2015.
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