Johnny Jones

Head Basketball Coach
  • 4th YEAR
  • DeRIDDER, LA
  • LSU

  • Victories

    More wins in first 3 years than any coach in LSU history

  • Final Fours

    Only person in LSU history to both play and coach on a Final Four team

  • Postseason

    First coach in LSU history to take the Tigers to postseason play twice in first three seasons

  • 21 years

    Two decades at LSU as a player and a coach

  • Top 5

    Two top 5 recruiting classes in 3 years

Consistency & Improvement.

The two watchwords of the first three years of Johnny Jones tenure as Head Coach

Year 1

19 Total wins

9 SEC Wins

Year 2

20 Total wins

9 SEC Wins

NIT 2nd Round

Year 3

22 Total wins

11 SEC Wins

NCAA 2nd Round

Player 1980-84

Nicknamed "The Bullet", Johnny Jones enjoyed a stellar career as a point guard at LSU from 1980-1984. Nicknamed “The Bullet” for his speed pushing the ball up the floor, the four-year letterman played on the 1981 NCAA Final Four team as a freshman and was part of 82 victories during his career.


Assistant 1984-97

After finishing his eligibility in 1984, he served as an Assistant Coach under Hall of Fame Coach, Dale Brown. During his time as an Assistant, Coach Jones was part of teams that went to an NCAA Final Four (1986), an Elite Eight (1987) as well as nine consecutive NCAA tournaments while winning 2 SEC Championships.


Head Coach 2012-Pres

In just 3 short years, Johnny Jones has re-established LSU as one of the nation’s elite basketball programs. Off the court, he has assembled 3 nationally-ranked recruiting classes which has translated into historic results. His teams have combined for the most wins (61) by any head coach during their first three seasons at LSU.

H.I.T. Style of Play

"We will play extremely HARD, we are going to play INTELLIGENT and we are going to play TOGETHER. When you unite guys like that, they understand it’s not about 'I' it’s about 'WE'. That’s the style that PLAYERS ENJOY PLAYING and I CERTAINLY LOVE COACHING."

Bringing Back the

Passion

There is an excitement about LSU Basketball that hasn’t been seen in many years. Coach Jones has changed the perception of LSU Basketball and has put the program back in the national spotlight.

Johnny Jones is a passionate leader who knows how to win. He has proven he is a championship coach and his strong ties to the Tiger program will be vital in reestablishing LSU Basketball as a national power.

Mike Krzyzewski
Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils

We all got much more than a basketball coach. We got a person with integrity, humor, superb work ethic, strong-willed, a unifier, a disciplinarian, and a bright and pleasant gentleman. There is no down side with “The Bullet” from DeRidder.

Dale Brown
Former LSU Head Coach, Hall of Famer

Any player in the nation would want to play for Coach Johnny Jones because he’s a players coach and a man of his word. He was a part of my development that I'll never forget. Now that I have received my doctorate degree, this doctor prescribes LSU and Coach Jones to make their dreams come true.

Dr. Shaquille O’Neal
LSU All-American, NBA Superstar

I am very happy for Johnny, He loves LSU. I can’t think of a better fit... We’ve competed against them. His teams are always well prepared. He’s recruited well wherever he has been. I anticipate LSU competing for championships in the very near future.

Bill Self
Head Coach, Kansas Jayhawks

The hiring of Johnny Jones could not have come at a better time for both LSU and Johnny. Jones did a tremendous job while interim Head Coach at Memphis and became a proven winner at North Texas. I fully expect the Golden Era of LSU Basketball to be re-born with Johnny Jones as Head Coach.

Tim Brando
Fox Sports Personality

Off The Court

  • Since Johnny Jones arrival at LSU in 2012, EVERY SENIOR has graduated.

  • Since the day he returned to the Baton Rouge campus, Jones has gone out of his way to embrace all aspects of the community.

  • Jones has traveled throughout the state and spoken to civic groups and youth organizations to help deliver the message of LSU Basketball.

  • In 2015, Coach Jones established “Johnny Jones Courts For Kids”, a program with the mission to refurbish courts in local communities around Louisiana.