Deacon Jones Named as New Women’s Basketball Head Coach at LSUS
SHREVEPORT, La. — LSU Shreveport Athletics has officially announced the hiring of Deacon Jones as the next head coach of the Pilot women's basketball program.
Jones steps into the role with more than 30 years of leadership experience and over two decades of coaching excellence across the collegiate, high school, and amateur levels. Widely respected as a defensive specialist and a proven program builder, Jones most recently served as the head women's basketball coach at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, where he led the team to a 20-10 overall record, a 17-5 mark in conference play, and an appearance in the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals.
"We are thrilled to welcome Deacon as the next leader of our women's basketball program," said Lucas Morgan, Director of Athletics. "Throughout the hiring process, Deacon's ability to build meaningful relationships and recruit talented student-athletes stood out. He has a proven track record of identifying and developing players who fit a championship culture, and we are excited about the energy, vision, and leadership he will bring to our program."
"It is a blessing and an honor to be chosen as the next head coach of LSUS Women's Basketball," Jones said. "We will uphold the championship standards of this program and push for excellence on and off the court every single day."
Beyond his X's and O's resume, Jones has spent decades using basketball as a platform for community impact and mentorship. Long before his rise through the college ranks, he established deep roots in Louisiana by founding Acadiana Lady Hoops and co-founding the Acadiana Hoops boys AAU program. Through these organizations, he mentored hundreds of young athletes, consistently prioritizing character development, academic accountability, and community leadership alongside success on the court.
Prior to his head coaching stint at Texas A&M-Texarkana, Jones spent 13 seasons on the staff at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, including a highly successful tenure as Associate Head Coach. During his time with the Ragin' Cajuns, he played a vital role in developing All-Conference talent while elevating the program to historic heights.
During his time on staff, Louisiana achieved four consecutive winning seasons from 2014–18—the first such stretch in program history. The Ragin' Cajuns also captured back-to-back Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) championships in 2015 and 2016, and secured the program's first-ever Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) appearance in 2021.
Before transitioning to the collegiate level, Jones orchestrated a dominant run at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette. Over four seasons, he guided the team to a stunning 120-13 record, highlighted by back-to-back state championships in 2011 and 2012.
Morgan added, "We are confident that under his direction, our women's basketball program will continue to compete at a high level while providing an outstanding experience for our student-athletes both on and off the court."
Jones earned his Bachelor of Science in General Studies from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information and updates on LSUS Athletics please visit lsusathletics.com, 'like' us on Facebook at LSU Shreveport Athletics or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @lsusathletics.