NEW ORLEANS – Last week, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to all spring sport athletes, including 2020 seniors, and that institutions across the country will determine if and how they will finance scholarships for the upcoming 2020-21 season.
New Orleans Director of Athletics
Tim Duncan announced Thursday the Privateers and the University of New Orleans will honor scholarship aid for all current spring sport seniors, making New Orleans the first NCAA Division I institution in the state of Louisiana to do so.
The NCAA rule would affect all spring sports, but for the Privateers, that includes baseball (10), beach volleyball (five), men's outdoor track and field (four), women's outdoor track and field (three), women's tennis (two), men's tennis (one) and golf (zero).
Seniors that would have exhausted eligibility will not count against the NCAA-numbered scholarships across sports, but colleges and universities did not have to reward the same number.
Here are more comments from our spring head coaches returning seniors.
BLAKE DEAN – BASEBALL (10 SENIORS)
"I commend our university and athletic department for honoring our senior scholarships for another season. Many universities have decided not to do so but our leadership has shown great poise and commitment to the student-athlete experience."
MILLICENT VAN NORDEN – BEACH VOLLEYBALL (FIVE SENIORS)
"The university's decision to honor our senior scholarships is commendable. Knowing the sacrifices each student-athlete made to compete at the collegiate level and represent New Orleans is matched by the commitment from our institution. It's immeasurable. I'm so proud to be a Privateer."
BRIAN JOHNSON – OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD (FOUR MEN, THREE WOMEN)
"I am excited that the university has decided to honor our senior scholarships and continue to help our track and team and spring sports overall progress in the right direction."
BURZIS KANGA – TENNIS (TWO WOMEN, ONE MALE)
"In the most difficult times at the University of New Orleans, kudos to the leadership of President (Dr. John) Nicklow and Director of Athletics
Tim Duncan. They recognized and assisted all student-athletes and are now offering seniors another year of competition and scholarships. The value of our student-athletes is unparalleled and we did not compromise or deprive them of their senior seasons."
All media inquiries and interview requests must go through our communications office. Should you wish to interview anyone in athletics, please contact assistant athletic director for communications and new media
Kelvin Queliz (
kqueliz@uno.edu /
917-683-6517).
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