SmashMouth

Folks, it official – Johnny Jones is now the 21st men's head basketball coach at LSU. As most of you know, Jones was a member of two LSU NCAA Final Four teams as a player and assistant coach, and he knows what it's like to have a successful program at LSU. There’s no doubt in my mind that he will bring a lot of passion to the job, and passion is something the program has been lacking for some time. Only time will tell whether that passion will translate into success on the court, but I'm certainly willing to give him the benefit of doubt and support him whole-heartedly.

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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.

"I am pleased to welcome Johnny Jones back to Baton Rouge where he helped build a winner and where I am confident he will once again build a winner and bring excitement back to the Maravich Center," Alleva said. "I have followed Johnny closely since my first meeting with him four years ago when he was very impressive in my interview with him the last time the head coach job was open at LSU. I have taken every opportunity to visit with him since that time and I have come to know him well. He is the solid coach and recruiter that we need and I am particularly impressed with his passion for LSU. It is his passion that I know will translate into success on and off the court for our student-athletes under his leadership."

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.

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