LSU introduces hoops coach Trent Johnson

Apr 10, 2008 - 9:22 PM BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Ticker) -- Trent Johnson found what he was looking for at Louisiana State.

Johnson was officially announced as LSU's new men's basketball coach during a news conference Thursday, completing his departure from Stanford.

Despite enjoying a successful four-year run as the head coach of the Cardinal, Johnson failed to reach an agreement with Stanford on a new contract.

A California native, Johnson was scheduled to meet with Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby to discuss a new deal Thursday afternoon.

But Johnson claimed he could not pass up on the chance to coach at LSU, citing the state's bevy of local athletes worth recruiting.

"It certainly has been a whirlwind," Johnson said. "But when this opportunity arose, I was asked the question, 'Why (take the LSU job)?'

"The answer was real simple - the opportunity to recruit the best student-athletes across the country and have the opportunity to compete for championship year in and year out."

Johnson will replace John Brady, who was fired on February 7 when the Tigers were 8-13 overall and just 1-6 in the Southeastern Conference. LSU ended the year with a 13-18 record and a 6-10 mark in SEC play under interim coach Butch Pierre.

"We have an excellent chance to get this thing turned around soon," said Johnson, who cited a recent conversation with reigning national championship football coach Les Miles.

"Les Miles showed me that championship trophy," Johnson said. "That is our goal."

Johnson guided Stanford to a 25-8 record this season and a berth in the NCAA Tournament's "Sweet 16," where the Cardinal lost to Texas, 82-62.

But Stanford lost twin 7-footers Brook and Robin Lopez, who announced last week that they will forego their junior seasons to enter the NBA draft.

The absence of the Lopez brothers, Stanford's top two scorers and rebounders this past season, also likely influenced Johnson's decision to leave his post with the Cardinal.

The head coach at Nevada prior to arriving in Palo Alto, Johnson posted an 80-48 record in four seasons at Stanford, which included three appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Johnson, 51, owns a owns a 159-122 record in nine overall seasons at Stanford and Nevada.