STWF Sports| NEW ORLEANS| August 30, 2026 — LSU New Orleans is bringing another familiar name back to the Lakefront, announcing that Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer John Brady has joined the athletic department as senior advisor for athletic advancement and men’s basketball strategy.
The Aug. 28 appointment gives Brady a dual role within Privateer Athletics. He will assist athletic department leadership with fundraising priorities and major-gift initiatives while also working directly with the men’s basketball program on roster construction, long-term planning and overall program strategy.
LSU New Orleans Athletic Director Dr. Michael Giorlando said Brady’s extensive coaching background and relationships throughout college athletics will provide value beyond the basketball program.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach John Brady back to the Lakefront,” Giorlando said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and a vast array of connections to our athletic department.”
The Impact of John Brady on Privateer Basketball
Men’s basketball head coach Stacy Hollowell also pointed to Brady’s combination of coaching experience and continued involvement in the modern game as a significant resource for the Privateers.
Brady is best known for his 11 seasons as head coach at LSU, where he compiled 192 victories from 1997-2008. His tenure included Southeastern Conference championships in 2000 and 2006, four NCAA Tournament appearances and a memorable run to the 2006 Final Four.
He was named SEC Coach of the Year twice and later recognized as an SEC Living Legend in 2018. Brady was inducted into the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025, while his 192 victories remain third in program history behind Dale Brown and Harry Rabenhorst.
Several high-profile players developed under Brady at LSU. Stromile Swift and Glen Davis earned All-America recognition, while Swift, Davis and Brandon Bass were named SEC Player of the Year during their careers. Bass, Davis and Tyrus Thomas also earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors.
Before arriving at LSU, Brady began his Division I head coaching career at Samford, winning 89 games from 1991-97 while capturing a pair of Trans America Athletic Conference Western Division titles.
He later returned to the head-coaching ranks at Arkansas State, directing the Red Wolves from 2008-16. Brady won 121 games there and twice guided Arkansas State to Sun Belt Conference Western Division championships.
Since 2017, Brady has remained closely connected to college basketball as the color analyst for LSU men’s basketball broadcasts on the LSU Sports Radio Network.
His new position also represents a homecoming of sorts.
Brady previously spent the 1990-91 season at New Orleans as a member of Tim Floyd’s coaching staff. That Privateers team finished 23-8, shared the American South Conference regular-season championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
New Orleans entered that tournament as the No. 14 seed in the Southeast Region and pushed eventual national runner-up Kansas before falling 55-49 after the teams entered halftime tied.
That season also included a road victory over No. 16 Virginia, just the second win over an Associated Press Top 25 opponent in program history at the time.
Brady coached several prominent Privateers during that stint, including Tank Collins, Melvin Simon and Ervin Johnson. Collins earned American South Player of the Year honors, while Johnson eventually became the program’s only first-round NBA Draft selection.
Johnson’s recent return to LSU New Orleans as an assistant coach, combined with Brady’s appointment, adds another layer of continuity between the program’s past and its current direction.
For LSU New Orleans, Brady’s return provides an experienced basketball voice and established fundraiser as the athletic department continues building its future on the Lakefront.
