"Mark has worked for a guy I have tremendous respect for in Mike McConathy. He has proven he can find players and do a good job with limited resources. He is very highly regarded amongst his peers and I feel like the New Orleans program is in good hands."
- Tim Floyd, UTEP head coach and former UNO head coach
“On behalf of the entire NSU Athletic Department, I offer congratulations to Mark for garnering this wonderful opportunity at UNO. This hire is a compliment to NSU and especially to Coach Mike McConathy, under whom Mark has worked for the past 11 years. Mark has diligently and consistently prepared himself for a head coaching position and it is nice to see all of his hard word rewarded. I have the utmost confidence Mark will, in turn, reward UNO for selecting him by building a program of which the entire university, along with its alumni base and the Greater New Orleans area, can be proud.”
“Basketball aside, UNO has just hired a quality person in Mark Slessinger. He eats, drinks, and sleeps basketball and not just the part of the game that takes place on a 94-foot court. Rather, his main passion at UNO will be for the young men in the basketball program and on a daily basis, he will strive to prepare them for life beyond the game. Doing that, as it has so often at NSU, will in turn translate into on-court success for the Privateers.”
- Greg Burke, Northwestern State Athletic Director
“Mark has developed into one of the bright young coaches out there. He is very well rounded and solid on so many levels. At Northwestern State, he has been instrumental in bringing NCAA tournament wins and Southland Conference championships to a school which has never experienced success at that level. Mark was instrumental as a recruiting coordinator at putting together the right pieces to make the success possible. Having seen Mark succeed as a head and assistant junior college coach in some of the toughest circumstances in the country, I know that he has the ability to adapt and succeed in any situation. Given the opportunity, his track record will show he will succeed.”
– Jamie Dixon, Head Basketball Coach, University of Pittsburgh
“Mark Slessinger is one of the most inventive and creative mid-major assistant coaches I've ever run across. He consistently finds an edge over the competition with his quick mind and he commands respect from his players and colleagues with his even-handed treatment, his loyalty and his precise attention to detail. By helping lift Northwestern State from the 1990's doledrums to consistent Southland contention over the past decade, he's a head coach who's been hiding in plain sight”
– Kyle Whelliston, Writer & Editor of the MidMajority.com; Writer for Basketball Times, ESPN and Basketball State
“Mark has been an integral part of building and maintaining several successful basketball programs. His tireless work, uplifting attitude and ability to find and recruit players are evident in the success both Northwestern State University and Northland Pioneer College have had during his times with those programs. As part of the San Antonio Spurs organization for the last 16 years, I know how important it is to have high character and integrity in a head coach – Mark has the character and integrity that every program should use as the starting point for building a successful program.”
- Mike Budenholzer, Assistant Coach, San Antonio Spurs
“Playing for Coach Sless at Northwestern State University was a great experience. He showed me great skills on and off the court. I was really blessed to have Coach Sless as a teacher of basketball and life, but most importantly as a friend.”
- Tyronn Mitchell, Northwestern State Team Captain (2004-06), all-time steals leader, third all-time assists and an All-Southland Conference selection; Currently playing professional basketball in Romania.
