BATON ROUGE – LSU men’s basketball head coach Johnny Jones announced on Friday that assistant head coach David Patrick will be leaving the LSU staff after four years to move into a coaching position at another university.
The position will be announced by the new school at the completion of necessary HR background checks and paperwork.
“Coach Patrick has done a tremendous job over the last four years,” said Coach Jones. “He has been a very integral part of the success in all phases of our program. I want to wish him and his wonderful family all the best in his new position as he continues in a profession that he is so passionate about.”
The 40-year-old Patrick has been part of in-game and practice situations and has played a major part in helping LSU acquire nationally-ranked talent to come to LSU, including composite ranked No. 5 (2013) and No. 3 (2015) classes.
LSU’s most recent class in 2015 included national prep award winner and No. 1 recruit Ben Simmons, No. 15 Antonio Blakeney and No. 39 Brandon Sampson. Simmons is the consensus national Freshman of the Year and is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
He has also been a part of a coaching staff that has 80 wins in four years at LSU with Coach Jones, sending Johnny O’Bryant III in 2014 and Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey (both 2015) to the NBA with more players expected to enter the league after the 2016 Draft.
“I want to thank Coach Jones and the LSU family for embracing me and my family during our four years at LSU,” said Coach Patrick. “It has been a great journey assisting Coach Jones get the basketball program back to where it should be, which is competing for SEC championships. We have been able to sign two top ten recruiting classes nationally. We have averaged 20 wins a season, and most importantly every senior who has been in our program has graduated.
“This is a new challenge that will allow me to continue to grow as a coach and person. I have learned and grown immensely under Coach Jones. I am indebted to all the players, fans, and administration that have played a role in our time here in Baton Rouge,” he said.
Patrick came to LSU in 2012 after a stint as a personnel scout with the Houston Rockets of the NBA. Patrick on the collegiate level had served for four years on the staff at Saint Mary’s and one year at Nicholls State in Thibodaux.