Texas Southern Coach Johnny Jones Eyed for LSU Staff

Jones has not resigned from TSU, but a move to Wade's staff could make sense given his deep LSU ties.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:19am

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in deep maroon, forest green, and golden yellow, conceptually representing the fractured and multi-faceted nature of a basketball game or match.The potential move of veteran coach Johnny Jones from Texas Southern to LSU's staff would bring a wealth of experience and valuable recruiting connections to a rebuilding SEC program.Houston Today

Johnny Jones, the head coach of Texas Southern University, is reportedly a top candidate to join Will Wade's coaching staff at LSU. While Jones has not officially resigned from TSU, the fit seems appealing given his long history with the LSU program as both a player and assistant coach. Jones has built Texas Southern into a consistent winner in the SWAC, leading the Tigers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2020-2023.

Why it matters

Jones' potential departure would be a major loss for the SWAC and HBCU basketball, as he has been instrumental in Texas Southern's recent success. However, the opportunity to return to LSU, where he has deep roots, could be too good for Jones to pass up. Adding an experienced coach like Jones to his staff would be a significant boost for Wade as he looks to rebuild the LSU program.

The details

Jones has spent the last eight seasons as the head coach at Texas Southern, compiling a 428-359 career record in Division I. During his tenure, the Tigers have made four NCAA Tournament appearances, won back-to-back SWAC Tournament titles in 2021 and 2022, and recorded historic wins over Power Five programs like Baylor, Oregon, Texas A&M, and Florida. Jones is a Louisiana native with strong recruiting ties in the region, and his HBCU pedigree could help LSU tap into a valuable talent pipeline.

  • Jones has been the head coach at Texas Southern since 2018.
  • The Tigers have made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2020-2023.

The players

Johnny Jones

The head coach of the Texas Southern Tigers, who has built the program into a consistent winner in the SWAC over the past eight seasons.

Will Wade

The current head coach of the LSU Tigers, who is reportedly interested in adding Jones to his coaching staff.

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What they’re saying

“Jones at LSU would not be a consolation prize. It would be a homecoming for a coach who built his foundation in Baton Rouge, rebuilt his profile at TSU, and now could return to the SEC with a wealth of experience.”

— HBCU Legends

What’s next

LSU has not officially offered Jones a position on its coaching staff, and Jones has not resigned from Texas Southern. However, the potential move continues to be a topic of discussion within the HBCU basketball community, and it remains to be seen if Jones will ultimately decide to return to his alma mater.

The takeaway

The potential departure of Johnny Jones from Texas Southern would be a significant loss for HBCU basketball, as he has been instrumental in the Tigers' recent success. However, the opportunity to rejoin the LSU program, where he has deep roots, could be an enticing proposition for Jones as he looks to take the next step in his coaching career.