LSU Basketball Coach Johnny Jones will speak at Rotary Wednesday | Business

LSU Men's Basketball Coach Johnny Jones, a member of two LSU NCAA Final Four teams as a player and assistant coach, will speak at the Rotary Club on Wednesday, June 13 at Boudreaux's, 2647 Government Street at noon.

Jones was named the 21st men's head basketball coach at LSU by LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva in April.

The 51-year-old 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.

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.