New Orleans Privateers men’s basketball Head Coach Mark Slessinger was awarded a new six-year contract, announced the New Orleans Department of Intercollegiate Athletics on Monday afternoon.
"I am so thankful to our President Dr. Peter Fos and Director of Athletics Mr. Derek Morel. Their commitment to our student-athletes and the mission to build championship level people, students, and athletes has placed the athletics department on the fast track to success. In a short period of time we have been able to grow the program and establish a solid culture of hard work, accountability, pride, and giving back to our tremendous community. It is a great honor to accept this contract."
The contract was approved by the Louisiana Board of Supervisors on Friday, June 27. With the contract, Slessinger will be with the Privateers through the 2019-20 season. The Bloomington, Ind. native is coming off of an 11-15 season before which the Privateers were picked at the bottom in pre-season polls but competed throughout the league season in the top half of the conference standings.
The 2013-14 season was New Orleans’ first season as a member of the Southland Conference. In the 13-14 campaign, the Privateers compiled an 8-10 mark in league play that included a four-game win streak in the midst of the program’s first conference action since 2010-11. The Privateers played the toughest non-conference schedule in the country in 2013-14 highlighted with a key victory over UTEP, which is coached by former New Orleans Head Coach Tim Floyd.
In last year’s NCAA Academic Progress Program, the Privateers earned a perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 1000, which tied as the best APR Score in school history. Last season the team also placed six student-athletes on the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
"We couldn’t be more excited about the student-athletes that are a part of our program. They are working so hard to improve daily in the classroom and on the floor. We have an expectation to compete for a Southland Conference championship and beyond to add to UNO’s rich history of post season play, as well as, add to our high graduation success rate."
Overall, Slessinger is 36-48 as a head coach with New Orleans and has registered 10-plus wins in two of his three seasons at the helm. "Our family is proud to be citizens of our great city first and foremost. We are proud to do our small part in helping to rebuild the world’s greatest city and serve the great students at the state’s most dynamic and diverse University. This opportunity would not have been possible without the incredible work ethic and commitment of our coaching staff and support staff. Their tireless investment in our student-athletes has led to the beginning of a great renaissance of Privateers Basketball."
"We are pleased to have Coach Slessinger continue to lead our men’s basketball program into a promising and successful future," added Athletics Director Derek Morel. "Mark has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our university, our student-athletes, and our community. His plan for success and vision for a sustainable, championship-level program is formed on strong core values, and closely linked to the fundamental mission of our university."
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