Jay Johnson addresses Josh Jordan to Duke rumors

LSU, winners of the Baton Rouge Regional and Super Regional, is heading to the 2025 Men’s College World Series for the first time since it won the National Championship in 2023. The Tigers, who earned the No. 6 national seed, are the second-highest remaining seed in the field of eight behind No. 3 Arkansas.

A major catalyst to this season’s success has been assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Josh Jordan, who was hired in 2022. Prior to jumping to Baton Rouge, Jordan had been Duke‘s assistant coach/recruiting coordinator since 2015 (he had been on staff since 2012).

With Duke head coach Chris Pollard replacing former head coach Brian O’Connor at Virginia, Jordan’s name has been floated as a potential replacement in Durham. LSU head coach Jay Johnson addressed these rumors at Thursday’s Men’s College World Series Media Day Press Conference.

“I think if anybody is qualified to talk about this, it’s me, with having really good assistant coaches,” Johnson said. “And programs should talk to Josh. He’s one of the best in the country. I would support him for anything because he’s done a lot for me. He’s one of the best, if not the best, assistant coach I’ve ever had. He’s certainly capable of being a head coach and running his own program, and for me obviously I want to keep him because he’s really good at what he does and he makes me a better head coach because how quality he does his work.”

Johnson, however, wants to keep Jordan on staff

“As far as the Omaha thing, that’s just about being a man and compartmentalizing those things. I have no questions about our staff and our ability to prepare with other things going on. I mean, the transfer portal thing is — I mean, it’s a distraction as well. But I expect them to be able to execute what they need to do in that space and have our team ready to play and have their areas locked up. And I think how we’re designed as a staff helps in that regard too because I do so much of the game management and the offense and strategy, and Coach [Nate] Yeskie calls the pitches.”

“We’re lined up good, and I’m happy for Coach Jordan that people are recognizing the work that he’s put in, and I hope our people at LSU recognize it, too, because I want to keep him.”

The Tigers open play in the Men’s College World Series on Friday at 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET against fellow SEC foe Arkansas. LSU won the regular season series between the two programs in May.