LSU Football linebacker details what he wants to see in a new coach

LSU football linebacker Mike Jones is going to have a lot of great stories to tell one day.

Jones’ college football experience has been wild….and he still has two years of eligibility remaining after the 2021 season.

The Nashville native started his career at Clemson in 2018. Jones redshirted in 2018, playing in only three games.

Clemson won a national championship in 2018, finishing 15-0 after beating Alabama 44-16 in the title game.

In 2019, Jones played in all 15 games for Clemson, including playing on special teams in the championship game against LSU.

Jones was a key player for Clemson in 2020, before deciding to transfer to LSU for the 2021 season.

This year hasn’t gone as planned for Jones — LSU has struggled throughout the season. As a result, Jones will be playing for his third head coach in three years in 2022.

Earlier this week, Jones detailed the traits he wants to see in LSU’s new coach.

Mike Jones details what he wants to see in LSU football’s new coach

Jones made it clear this week during a media session with reporters that he wants to see a players’ coach at LSU. He feels like Dabo Swinney and Ed Orgeron were both players’ coaches so that’s the type of coach he’s hoping LSU hires in the coming weeks.

Here are Jones’ full comments on LSU’s coaching search (via 247Sports):

"I’ve been around two players’ coaches. Coach O, I feel like he’s a big players’ coach and I think Dabo is too. For me, that’s what’ll make me really go all out for my coaches. I’m going to go all out regardless because I take pride in doing my job and doing it well. It’s easier to back somebody who you know, at the end of the day, will back you and he believes in you.“He wants what’s best for you. Rather than maybe a guy who’s trying to win games or just trying to get to that next paycheck. I think that’s really important just finding a really good players’ coach. Somebody who can help rally the guys together. I think that’s really important."

This is the type of coach I assume LSU will hire. Hiring a players’ coach is especially important with the NCAA transfer portal playing such a large role in the game these days.

Being a college football head coach in 2021 is a delicate balance of continuing to recruit players on your roster, while also trying to instill discipline and toughness.

It’s not an easy job. And that’s why we’re seeing so many fail at it.