On Mar. 10, 2025, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team announced Quannas White as their new head coach.
For the past 11 years, White served as an assistant coach for Tulane University, Western Kentucky University and most recently, the University of Houston.
His most significant body of work was his time with Houston, where he collected 235 wins and only 43 losses in eight years. This also included eight conference titles and seven consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Houston has shown a consistent level of dominance during White’s tenure maintaining a Top 10 national ranking the last four seasons. Not to mention, the Cougars are currently the second-best team in the nation, according to the Associated Press.
After their most recent win being in the Big 12 Championship, the Cougars accumulated their fourth straight season of at least 30 wins. They are now 30-4 with a 19-1 record against conference opponents.
Their season isn’t over yet, as they’ll try to emulate their previous success in March Madness, including a Sweet 16 appearance last season.
Or even better, their Final Four run in 2021, where they would eventually fall to the first-ranked Baylor Bears.
Houston’s dominance in the regular season and success in the postseason has earned them so much respect across the country, and it’s a big deal for the Ragin’ Cajuns to get a guy who has experienced what it’s like to win and be on such a big stage every year.
Usually, a green flag that we see in modern coaching hires is if they have any high-level basketball experience. White, being a former player, has that and it enables him to connect with players on a more personal level.
White is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he graduated from St. Augustine High School. In his senior year, he averaged 17 points per game and won a LHSAA Class 5A state championship.
After earning All-Conference honors at Midland (Texas) Junior College as a sophomore, White transferred to the University of Oklahoma where he really excelled.
He averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 assists per game, leading the Sooners to the 2002 NCAA Final Four. He was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team and the NCAA Tournament All-West Regional Team.
In his senior season, White led Oklahoma back into March Madness, this time making it to the 2003 NCAA Elite Eight where he averaged 8.6 points and 4.1 assists per game.
He went on to play in the NBA D-league and professionally in France and Germany. This goes to show he’s not only successful on the sidelines but on the court as well. White’s ability to relate to players is a major factor in his ability to recruit them.
Houston has produced some great, young talent in the NBA, most recently first rounders Quentin Grimes (2021), Marcus Sasser (2023) and Jarace Walker (2023).
Grimes, in particular, is having a breakout season for the Philadelphia 76ers. In March, he’s averaging 26.1 points, five rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals on 53.5% shooting.
Houston’s last drafted player was second rounder Jamal Shead in 2024. Shead had an extremely special college career becoming the first player in league history to win Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. He’s now playing solid minutes for the Toronto Raptors.
Louisiana noticed White’s keen ability to recruit and develop special players. He wants his guys to be successful and learn as much as they can while in his care.
“Quannas is a man of high integrity, character and faith. He’s an elite recruiter and regarded as one of the best player development coaches in the industry,” vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics, Dr. Bryan Maggard said.
Listening to his press conference after accepting the job gave me a lot of hope. With his capabilities, he might be able to recruit the next LeBron James.
The Cajuns are in need of talent, after seeing the majority of the starters pack their bags before this season. A change of culture needs to be in place and White provides that.
He’s a winner. He’s done it at a high level both as a player and an assistant coach. Now is his opportunity to run his own program and instill that winning culture.