Johnny Jones appears poised for a homecoming in the SEC.
A new report from CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein indicates that the Texas Southern coach is finalizing an agreement to resign and join LSU as an assistant.
Jones, an LSU alum, previously led the Tigers from 2012-17, then rebuilt Texas Southern into a steady SWAC contender.
Dr. Kenyatta Cavil of Inside the HBCU Sports Lab first reported in late March that Jones would be leaving his post at Texas Southern for LSU
Jones, who has led the Tigers since 2018, helped keep Texas Southern among the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top programs and guided the team through multiple successful seasons. His departure would mark the end of a notable run in Houston.
The move also brings Jones back to Baton Rouge, where he previously served as LSU’s head coach from 2012 to 2017. During those five years, Jones compiled a 90-72 overall record and a 42-48 mark in Southeastern Conference play.
He will be an assistant under the new coach Will Wade. Wade returns to LSU after coaching one season at North Carolina State.
Jones led LSU to one NCAA Tournament appearance and one NIT berth, and the 90 wins remain the most by any LSU coach in his first five seasons.
In 2024, Jones had signed a 3-year contract extension that would have kept him at TSU through the 2029 season
What loss of Johnny Jones means for Texas Southern
For Texas Southern, the development would mark the possible end of a run in which Jones restored the program’s credibility in the SWAC and kept the Tigers in the postseason conversation.
Jones’ departure would be felt well beyond Houston, where he became one of the most recognizable names in HBCU basketball. Texas Southern has been among the SWAC’s most stable programs under his leadership, and losing a coach with Jones’ profile would be a significant shift for the conference.
