BREAKING: LSU hires Johnny Jones

Johnny Jones, a member of two LSU NCAA Final Four teams as a player and assistant coach, was named on Friday as the 21st men’s head basketball coach at LSU by LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva.

Jones, 51, has served the last 11 seasons as the head men’s basketball coach at the University of North Texas. The DeRidder, La., native replaces Trent Johnson, who resigned after four seasons as head coach at LSU.

Jones played four years at LSU and was a member as a freshman of the 1981 NCAA Final Four team under Coach Dale Brown. He served 13 years on the coaching staff at LSU, and was on the staff when the Tigers became at that time the first 11-seed to advance to the NCAA Final Four in 1986.

This will be Jones’ third career head coaching position as he served as the interim head coach at the University of Memphis during the 1999-2000 season and began his career as the head coach of the University of North Texas prior to the 2001-02 season. The Mean Green has advanced to four of the last six Sun Belt Conference tournament championship games, including each of the last three seasons.

THE JOHNNY JONES FILE

Age: 51

Birthdate: March 30, 1961

Hometown: DeRidder, La.

High School: DeRidder High

College: LSU, BA, 1985

Wife: Kelli

College Coaching Experience

1984-85 – Student Assistant, LSU

1985-87 – Assistant Coach, LSU

1987-88 – Administrative Assistant, LSU

1988-94 – Assistant Coach, LSU

1994-97 – Associate Coach, LSU

1997-99 – Associate Coach, Memphis

1999-2000 – Interim Head Coach, Memphis

2000-01 – Assistant Coach, Alabama

2001-12 – Head Coach, North Texas

April 13, 2012 – Head Coach, LSU