LSUA names Jonson as athletic director

With its athletics program on the upswing, LSU of Alexandria brought in someone that wants to make the school "Central Louisiana's college team."

LSUA named Adam Jonson as its athletic director — becoming the fourth one since the school picked up sports in 2008. Jonson will begin at the school on Oct. 10 and will be the school's first non-coach to serve as athletic director.

"It's been a dream of mine coming up through the ranks. It's a blessing," Jonson said. "This is an incredible opportunity. I'm very humbled by LSUA trusting me with this responsibility to devote his full time to the position. It creates a world of opportunities. There's a lot of things that can be done and need to be done. We'll hit the ground running and go after it."

The Generals' athletic programs have flourished of late with the men's basketball, baseball, softball and tennis teams reaching the NAIA National Tournaments in the last two seasons.

"You taste that success and it makes you want to be more," Jonson said. "There's no need of changing that culture from wanting to get there and know what it's like. The Generals know what's that like. They want to be there and have been there. Our job is to push that bar a little higher and that's going to be challenging, but the success has been there and they know what it takes."

An alumnus of Northwestern State, Jonson served as the senior associate athletic director for the Demons in 2015, along with his duties the Demons Unlimited Foundation's executive director.

Jonson began his career as a student worker for NSU's sports information office and earned the LSWA's Ace Higgins Award in 2007. He also was the Assistant Athletics Director for Tickets and Operations at ULM and was the Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations at North Florida.

“Adam’s impact at Northwestern State over the last three years has been significant and is much appreciated,” said NSU athletic director Greg Burke. “What he accomplished at NSU and how he approached every day with the goal of making a difference for our department has prepared him for this next chapter in his career. The good people at LSU Alexandria are going to enjoy working with him and will no doubt see immediate results due to his energy, vision and passion. On behalf of the coaches and staff in the NSU athletic program, I congratulate Adam on this opportunity, knowing he has diligently and purposely prepared himself for a top leadership role in college athletics.”

In his three stints with NSU, Jonson credits Burke for being a great mentor and preparing him for this job at LSUA.

"What a great athletic director to have learned from," Jonson said. "I really appreciate his tutelage and opportunities he's given me. Ultimately, he's a big reason that I'm prepared for this situation that I'm at now."

Jonson is married to St. Mary's softball coach Elizabeth Jonson and the two have a 1-year-old daughter, Holly Elizabeth.