2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 38
BY SENATOR BISHOP
A RESOLUTION
To commend the 2016-2017 University of New Orleans Privateers Men's Basketball team
as the 2016-2017 Southland Conference Champions; to commend Head Coach Mark
Slessinger as the 2016-2017 Southland Coach of the Year and 2016-2017 Louisiana
Coach of the Year; and to commend Erik Thomas as the 2016-2017 Southland
Conference Player of the Year and 2016-2017 Louisiana Player of the Year.
WHEREAS, the 2016-2017 University of New Orleans Privateers Men's Basketball
team finished the season with a 20-12 overall record, and a 13-5 league record to win the
Southland Conference regular season title – the most wins by the Privateers in over 20 years;
and
WHEREAS, the 2016-2017 University of New Orleans Privateers Men's Basketball
team seized the title of 2016-2017 Southland Conference Champions, earning the top seed
in the Southland Conference tournament; and
WHEREAS, Mark Slessinger, UNO Privateers Head Basketball Coach, through his
dedication, commitment to excellence and perseverance, raised the Privateers overall wins
from 10-18 games, making them the most improved team among the nation's 351 Division
I programs; and
WHEREAS, Coach Slessinger, who led the Privateers to the first Division I winning
season in more than ten years as well as a Southland Conference victory, was named
2016-2017 Southland Coach of the Year by the Southland Conference and Louisiana's Coach
of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association; and
WHEREAS, during the 2016-2017 season, senior forward Erik Thomas earned 616
points, 19.3 points per game, 250 rebounds, 78 rebounds per game, 223 field goals, and 166
free throws; and
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WHEREAS, Thomas averaged double digits for the Privateers in all 32 season
games; earning him honorable-mention Associated Press All-American, first-team National
Association of Basketball Coaches All-Region 23, third-team College Sports Madness
All-Mid Major, first-team All-Southland Conference and Southland Conference Most
Valuable Player; and
WHEREAS, he was named 2016-2017 Player of the Year by the Southland
Conference and 2016-2017 Louisiana Player of the Year by the Louisiana Sportswriters
Association.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend the 2016-2017 UNO Privateers Men's Basketball team upon receipt
of the 2017 Southland Conference title, Head Coach Mark Slessinger on his selection as
2016-2017 Southland Conference Coach of the Year and 2016-2017 Louisiana Coach of the
Year; and forward Erik Thomas on his selection as the 2016-2017 Southland Conference
Player of the Year and 2016-2017 Louisiana Player of the Year.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
2016-2017 UNO Privateers Men's Basketball team and UNO Men's Basketball Head Coach
Mark Slessinger.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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