Texas Southern Faces Upheaval as Johnny Jones Leaves for LSU Job

Jones, the former head coach, is finalizing an agreement to join LSU as an assistant coach under Will Wade.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:23pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in deep maroon, navy blue, and golden yellow, conceptually representing the upheaval and uncertainty facing the Texas Southern men's basketball program.The departure of Texas Southern's head coach and athletic director creates a complex, fragmented landscape for the future of the school's basketball program.Baton Rouge Today

Johnny Jones, who has been the head coach of the Texas Southern men's basketball team since 2018, is in the final stages of finalizing an agreement to join LSU as an assistant coach. This move represents a homecoming for Jones, who played as a forward on the LSU team that reached the Final Four in 1981 and later served as the head coach of the Tigers from 2012 to 2017.

Why it matters

Jones' departure comes at a time of upheaval for Texas Southern, as the school's athletic director, Kevin Granger, was recently dismissed following an investigation into sexual assault allegations. The loss of their head coach and athletic director creates significant uncertainty for the Texas Southern basketball program.

The details

During his eight seasons as the head coach of Texas Southern, Jones compiled a 133-125 record and led the team to three NCAA tournament appearances. However, the team's performance declined in the later years, with Texas Southern finishing fourth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. Jones' move to LSU will reunite him with head coach Will Wade, who was rehired by the Tigers in late March.

  • Jones has been the head coach of Texas Southern since 2018.
  • Jones previously served as the head coach of LSU from 2012 to 2017.
  • Kevin Granger, the Texas Southern athletic director, was placed on administrative leave in June 2025 and dismissed from his position in February 2026 following an investigation into sexual assault allegations.

The players

Johnny Jones

The former head coach of the Texas Southern men's basketball team, who is finalizing an agreement to join the coaching staff at LSU as an assistant.

Will Wade

The head coach of the LSU men's basketball team, who recently rehired Jones to join his coaching staff.

Kevin Granger

The former athletic director of Texas Southern University, who was dismissed from his position following an investigation into sexual assault allegations.

Dr. Paula Jackson

The current interim athletic director of Texas Southern University, who has taken over the role following Granger's dismissal.

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What they’re saying

“Sources: Johnny Jones is finalizing an agreement to resign as Texas Southern's head coach and join Will Wade's staff at LSU.”

— Jon Rothstein, CBS Sports Reporter

What’s next

The Texas Southern men's basketball program will need to find a new head coach to replace Johnny Jones, who is leaving to join the coaching staff at LSU. The school's interim athletic director, Dr. Paula Jackson, will be tasked with leading the search for a new head coach and stabilizing the program during this period of upheaval.

The takeaway

The departure of both the head coach and athletic director creates significant uncertainty for the Texas Southern men's basketball program. The school will need to act quickly to find a new leader for the team and address the ongoing issues surrounding the previous athletic director's dismissal. This transition period will be crucial in determining the future direction of the program.