NATCHITOCHES – University of New Orleans head men's basketball coach Mark Slessinger spent 11 years working at Northwestern State under head coach Mike McConathy.
Below are quotes from McConathy about Slessinger upon his hire as head men's basketball coach at UNO.
“This is a tremendous loss to the NSU basketball program, but a richly-deserved opportunity for Mark and a great, great hire for UNO. Mark has been very, very instrumental in developing our program. He coined our slogan “Championship Basketball With a Purpose” because he understood from day one what we were all about, and he was completely committed to that philosophy. I don't think anyone could be better equipped to take on the responsibilities of being a head basketball coach at a place with the tradition and profile of the University of New Orleans.”
“I'm not looking forward to trying to replace him, but I am looking forward to watching him succeed at UNO. This is good for Louisiana basketball. He comes by his passion for basketball honestly as a native Hoosier, but he is Louisiana proud.”
“He understands all the little things that go into developing and building a program from the ground up. The little things make the difference. The basketball coaching aspect is so much the smallest part, because of the more important elements of the job: academics, working with alumni, developing a campus and community bond, being inclusive, having high standards all day every day. It's the signature sport at UNO, so it's vital to represent the university at all times in the highest caliber, and from the moment he accepted the opportunity, he's been doing that.”
“He's just remarkable from a basketball perspective. He has a special feel for game planning and for tactical moves during a game. Mark was ahead of the curve when he arrived here due to having been a junior college head coach, and he's been such a great cornerstone for our basketball successes. He's been right there with me, and he's taken over for me at times during games, when I've spent a little time at the end of the bench not feeling so well, and some other times when I've been sent to the hall. He's made every decision and he's made impactful ones to help us win over and over again. This is hardly new territory for him.”
“I allow my guys to coach, to have input in developing game plans, to make moves in time outs and during play. Mark has had the same scout on the same teams on our schedule for 10 years, and he's been amazing at scouts in tournaments and postseason play when it is hour-to-hour. He's had the ability to do all the things that in a lot of other systems, assistants don't have the opportunity to experience.”
“He's done a phenomenal job as our recruiting coordinator. He knows Louisiana and that's been fundamental to our success because Louisiana has such great players, some that get under the radar. He has background in junior college basketball, he has roots and ties in the midwest, so he's not boxed in because he's been here 11 years as somebody might tend to assume. Mark has strong contacts in our state and in many other areas that have helped us and will help UNO succeed.
“Mark's been outstanding in our community relations, both in his personal life and relationships, and ensuring our program reaches out and connects. He's never met a stranger. He's always inclusive. He has been special through the years at setting up things on the road where we were able to lend a hand at churches, hospitals, community centers, to help those less fortunate and to allow our young men to grow through giving. That's part of our approach and its part of his makeup.
“He's a very caring, very concerned, compassionate man. I'm so proud to have seen him over these past 11 years evolve from a young man into a fully mature adult, a committed husband and a father figure to the players in our program. It's about so much more than basketball with him. He reaches out to everybody and makes them feel a part of what we do. Mark has an inborn quality that recognizes value in everyone he encounters. Even our opponents and the officials enjoy dealing with him. He makes friends with the score table crews and event staffs everywhere we go. He knows it's a game, he makes it fun, and that approach keeps a healthy balance that is a great example for our student-athletes.”
