To the LSU Family:
Making a coaching change is one of the most difficult parts of this job. I know it deeply impacts not just the coach involved, but also his or her assistants, their families, the players who care about them, and our fans. It is made doubly difficult when the coach is a friend and a long-valued member of the Tiger family, ingrained in our athletic history and tradition.
In the end, the decision to dismiss Coach Johnny Jones did not come easily but was made in the firm belief that excellence is within reach.
I want to thank Johnny for his service to LSU, to the community and for his heartfelt commitment to his players and our program. Coach Jones is a man of tremendous character, work ethic and integrity. He truly loves LSU and will forever be an honored member of the Tiger family. I know I speak for all of LSU when I say we wish him nothing but the best.
LSU men’s basketball has a long and proud history. Some of the best players in the game have worn the purple and gold, their names and numbers retired for all time. Even today, LSU is among the top universities with the most representation in the NBA. The house that Pete built has certainly seen immense talent, great games and a strong and committed fan base.
Our challenge now is to build on this tradition with an even stronger focus on excellence, consistency and winning. Our goal in men’s basketball is to compete at the highest levels of the SEC each and every year, to make regular appearances in the NCAA tournament and to recruit top-notch student athletes who perform with distinction on and off the court. For our fans, we want to bring confidence and excitement back to the PMAC.
Finding a coach who has shown he can achieve those goals will begin with a wide net. This will be a national search for a proven winner. Along with our own relationships and expertise, we will utilize the consultation of a professional search firm to help us narrow down the list and identify the finest prospects in the country. We will invest the necessary time, resources and expertise to bring in the very best person to lead our basketball program.
Much of the process of singling out and interviewing candidates will likely have to wait for the college basketball season to conclude. I ask for your patience as we move forward in this process.
The decision to make a change is always hard, but it is always steeped in the conviction that we can do better; I firmly believe that excellence is within reach.
Geaux Tigers,
Joe