Nick Bowman hired as UNO Men’s Basketball’s new lead assistant coach

NEW ORLEANS, La. – University of New Orleans head men’s basketball coach Mark Slessinger announced the hiring of Nick Bowman as the lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Privateer basketball program. Bowman will replace Jay Smith who has accepted a position at another institution.

Bowman comes to the Lakefront from Nicholls State University where he served as an assistant basketball coach for his first two seasons before being promoted to associate head basketball coach for his final three years in Thibodaux.
 
“Coach Bowman is a coach and teacher that I have been able to get to know over the past five years competing against Nicholls State. He has separated himself as one of the top assistants in our conference and coach on the rise nationally,” said Slessinger.

“I know he had an integral part in their success during his tenure and has a passion for coaching and student-athletes success. Nick loves the city of New Orleans and he and his wife Kayla are proud residents and business owners in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. Nick is a tireless worker, and we are excited to welcome him to the UNO family.”

During his tenure at Nicholls State, Bowman helped lead the Colonels to 90 wins and two Southland Conference regular season championships. He was instrumental in recruiting and coaching 11 all-conference student-athletes that helped propel them to a school record for most regular single season wins and most regular season wins over a five-year period. The Colonels also advanced to the 2022 NIT postseason tournament.

“I am thrilled to join the men’s basketball staff at the University of New Orleans. Over the past five years while working in the Southland Conference I have developed respect and admiration for Coach Slessinger and the Privateer basketball program,” said Bowman.

“I consider it a privilege to work with Coach Slessinger, Athletic Director Tim Duncan and the athletic department to advance UNO basketball.”

Prior to Nicholls State, Bowman spent three years at Clemson University as the men’s basketball director of recruiting. The Tigers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the 2018 NCAA Tournament and to the NIT postseason Tournament in 2017.

In 2014, Bowman returned to his alma mater of Eastern Kentucky University to become director of basketball operations and helped lead the Colonels to an Ohio Valley Conference Eastern Division championship with a 21-12 final record. He also was a graduate assistant at EKU in 2012-13.

In 2013-14, Bowman worked as the Director of Basketball Operations Assistant at the University of Tennessee. In his lone season with the Volunteers, the team advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. He began his coaching career at the University of Pikeville in Kentucky.

The South Webster, Ohio native earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education (2010) and a master’s degree in sports administration (2013) from Eastern Kentucky.

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