Mark Slessinger

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Mark Slessinger
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamNew Orleans
ConferenceSouthland
Record121–145 (.455)
Biographical details
Born (1974-05-02) May 2, 1974 (age 47)
Bloomington, Indiana
Playing career
1991–1994Aurora
Position(s)Point guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1995–1996Aurora (assistant)
1996–1997Central Michigan (assistant)
1997–1999Northland Pioneer
1999–2011Northwestern State (assistant)
2011–presentNew Orleans
Head coaching record
Overall121–145 (.455)
Tournaments0–1 (NCAA Division I)
1–1 (CBI)
0–1 (CIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Southland regular season (2017)
Southland Tournament (2017)
Awards
Southland Coach of the Year (2017)

Mark Slessinger (born May 2, 1974) is the current basketball head coach at the University of New Orleans.[1] Before becoming coach at UNO, Slessinger spent the previous 11 years as an assistant coach at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. During Slessinger's tenure, the team won two Southland Conference titles and went to the NCAA Tournament twice, posting a record of 2–2 in the tournament.

Prior to joining Northwestern State, Slessinger served as the head coach at Northland Pioneer Community College in Arizona, posting a 36–25 record. Slessinger started his career with a pair of one-year stints at Aurora University (IL) and Central Michigan.

He is a member of Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity. He graduated from Edgewood High School in Ellettsville, Indiana where he played basketball for the Mustangs.

University of New Orleans[]

Slessinger became the 12th head coach in the history of the New Orleans program on June 28, 2011.[2] With Slessinger at the helm, the Privateers re-integrated into full time Division I status for athletics, despite budget challenges following Hurricane Katrina. In 2013-14 New Orleans became a member of the Southland Conference, and in just its fourth full season, won both the regular season championship and conference tournament championship in 2016–17.

With the conference tournament championship in March 2017, Slessinger ended a 21-year NCAA tournament drought and earned the program's first NCAA berth since 1996. In addition to the NCAA tournament appearance, Slessinger also received several individual awards for the 2016–17 season. Slessinger was named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year. The award was voted on by other conference head coaches after New Orleans was the preseason 9th place pick and then won the conference outright with a 13–5 record.[3] Slessinger also received the prestigious Eddie Robinson Award in the summer of 2017. The award is sponsored by the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame and recognizes outstanding achievements in athletics, academics, and citizenship to a member of the Louisiana sports community. Slessinger was also named Coach of the Year by the Louisiana Writers' Association and the Louisiana Basketball Coaches Association. Following the season, he received a new seven-year contract with the team.[4]

During Slessinger's time on the Lakefront, the Privateers have had a 95% graduation rate and helped numerous players continue their playing careers professionally. Slessinger resides in New Orleans with his wife and children.

Head coaching record[]

College[]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
New Orleans Privateers (NCAA Division I independent) (2011–2013)
2011–12 New Orleans 17–15
2012–13 New Orleans 8–18
New Orleans Privateers (Southland Conference) (2013–present)
2013–14 New Orleans 11–14 8–9 6th
2014–15 New Orleans 11–17 6–11 T–8th
2015–16 New Orleans 10–19 6–11 T–8th
2016–17 New Orleans 20–11 13–4 1st NCAA First Four
2017–18 New Orleans 16–17 11–7 T–4th CBI Quarterfinal
2018–19 New Orleans 19–14 12–6 T–3rd CIT First Round
2019–20 New Orleans 9–21 5–15 T–11th
2020–21 New Orleans 10–15 8–7 5th
New Orleans: 131–160 (.455) 69–69 (.496)
Total: 157–188 (.455)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References[]

  1. ^ "Mark Slessinger Profile". The University of New Orleans Official Athletic Site. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  2. ^ "NSU assistant Mark Slessinger hired as head coach of UNO". KSLA. June 28, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Duncan, Jeff (March 10, 2017). "UNO's ascension under Mark Slessinger a story of pride, perseverance and now wins". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  4. ^ Kleinpeter, Jim (August 28, 2017). "UNO hoops coach Mark Slessinger gets new 7-year contract". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved December 23, 2021.


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