UNO Men's Tennis Named Affiliate Member of Southland Conference (June 5, 2012)
NEW ORLEANS – The Southland Conference will be conducting a two-day site visit of the University of New Orleans campus on Wednesday and Thursday as it continues to evaluate potential member institutions.
Southland Commissioner Tom Burnett will head a group consisting of administrators from around the league that will meet with campus leadership and athletic department staff, in addition to touring the University's athletic facilities.
In May, UNO President Dr. Peter Fos was joined by athletic director
Derek Morel, head men's basketball coach
Mark Slessinger and consultant Richard Giannini in making a membership pitch to the Southland's Board of Directors.
By the conclusion of the meeting, the conference's governing body authorized visits to Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word and UNO. The site visits to the three campuses represent the next step in the formal process set forth by the SLC.
UNO will compete in 2012-13 as an NCAA Division I Independent in 13 of 14 sports. Earlier this summer, it was announced that the Privateer men's tennis team will compete as an affiliate member of the Southland and is eligible for the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
The Southland membership presently consists of the University of Central Arkansas, Lamar University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Oral Roberts University, Sam Houston State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Stephen F. Austin State University and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Houston Baptist University will join the conference in time for the 2013-14 academic year.
