Johnny Jones

Over 13 seasons until 1997, Jones solidified his reputation as a skilled recruiter, instrumental in bringing talent like Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Jackson to the program. His coaching journey continued with associate head coach and interim head coaching roles at Memphis from 1997 to 2000, followed by a stint as an assistant coach at Alabama from 2000 to 2001, before he took the helm as head coach at the University of North Texas in 2001. Jones led the North Texas Mean Green program for 11 seasons, from 2001 to 2012, transforming it into a formidable contender. His tenure was marked by consistent success, averaging 21 wins per year over his final six seasons and setting a school record with 24 wins in 2010.

Jones’s prowess as a program builder was recognized when he was named a finalist for the prestigious Ben Jobe Award in 2010, honoring the nation’s top minority coach. In 2012, Jones returned to LSU as head coach, a position he held for five seasons until 2017. During this time, he accumulated 90 wins, marking the most victories by any LSU head coach in their first five years. Under his leadership, LSU developed four NBA Draft selections in three years, most notably the No.

1 overall pick Ben Simmons in 2016. Beyond the court, Jones spearheaded community initiatives such as the ‘Johnny Jones Courts For Kids’ project, which established a new basketball court in Baton Rouge in 2015, and partnered with Shaquille O’Neal for a golf tournament that raised $200,000 for flood relief efforts. Since 2018, Jones has served as the Head Coach for Texas Southern University, continuing his legacy of success. His consistent performance at Texas Southern reinforces his reputation as a transformative leader in collegiate basketball.