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Morel leads UNO athletics in new direction
By Paul Geohegan, Driftwood Sports Editor
On May 18, UNO President Dr. Peter Fos began a new era in UNO athletics by appointing
Derek Morel as the university's new director of intercollegiate athletics.
Morel, who will replace former Athletic Director, Amy Champion, is fully supportive of the plan for UNO to remain in Division I.
“UNO's rightful place is in Division I” says Morel. “UNO's history and tradition of athletics is significant and it will help propel us as we take this next step toward athletic excellence.”
Morel also made it clear that UNO was never in Division II at any point.
While UNO will be independent of any conference in all sports during the 2012-2013 year, Morel hopes to join the Southland Conference which includes Louisiana schools Northwestern State, McNeese State, Southeastern Louisiana, and Nicholls State as well as several universities in Texas and Arkansas, in time for the 2013-2014 season. Morel stressed that it was important for UNO to have an identity and belonging to a conference would help establish one.
Intercollegiate football remains part of UNO's long-term plans.
“It is of tremendous interest to Dr. Fos, the university administration and our great UNO supporters,” he explains. This “tremendous interest” was part of the reason Morel was hired after a very extensive nationwide search.
Morel has been involved in college athletics for nearly two decades, including stints with prominent Division I institutions such as Tulane University, the University of Georgia, the University of Pittsburgh, and most recently, Wake Forest University.
His experiences with marketing, fundraising, and sales negotiations should be especially helpful as he attempts to secure more corporate sponsors for UNO. Morel is a graduate from Archbishop Shaw High School and Louisiana State University and holds a master's degree in sports administration and facility management from Ohio University. He will officially begin his role as Athletic Director of UNO July 1.
Morel had one final message for everyone involved with UNO.
“I want everyone to mark their calendars for the men's and women's basketball teams' home openers on November 9th,” he urges.
“We want all UNO students, faculty, staff, and alumni to wear their blue and silver and come out to help the Privateers as we continue our journey back to athletic excellence,” he adds. “It will take a collective effort from everyone in the UNO family to lift UNO athletics up to unprecedented levels of success.”
Note: Article was written prior to UNO receiving affiliate membership in the Southland Conference for men's tennis.
