New Orleans to join Southland Conference

The University of New Orleans will join the Southland Conference next July, the league announced Thursday. New Orleans, which has had athletic teams since 1969, was a founding member of the Sun Belt Conference in 1976 but left that league in 2010. The Privateers have been competing as an NCAA Division I independent. New Orleans will field teams in 14 of the 17 sports that the South Conference has championships in. "Finding a conference home in the Southland is significant for the University of New Orleans because it will allow us to re-establish our proud Division I athletic tradition," said New Orleans President Peter J. Fos. "Southland membership gives our student-athletes an opportunity to compete for championships, play in the postseason and receive recognition for their academic achievements." The men will take part in basketball, baseball, cross-country, golf, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field. On the women's side, New Orleans will compete in basketball, cross-country, golf, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball.