UNO Athletics announces return to campus plan

NEW ORLEANS – In alignment with the University of New Orleans COVID-19 pandemic task force, New Orleans Athletics has released its plan for student-athletes, coaches, and staff to safely return to campus, practice and competition.

The athletics task force was led by Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer Dena Freeman-Patton. The committee included Associate Athletic Director/SWA Kirsten Elleby, Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mark Slessinger, Athletics Facilities Manager Jason Veillion, Ochsner Medical Center Clinical Operations Manager Scott Saylor, Ochsner Medical Center Supervisor of Athletic Training Outreach Program Jordan Blough, Ochsner Medical Center Primary Care Sports Medicine Dr. David Leslie and Ochsner Medical Center Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Misty Suri.

The phased plan will address topics such as practice, academic support, facilities, travel, athletic training, sports performance, and hurricane preparedness and can be found by visiting UNOPrivateers.com/COVID19.

“We will be excited to have our student-athletes back on campus,” Freeman-Patton said. “However, it is important that we put precautions in place to keep them as safe as possible. There isn’t a foolproof solution. We want to be prepared for all situations. I am very pleased with our athletics task force that includes our partners from Ochsner Health. Ultimately, we will take the lead from the university, state, and the city of New Orleans.”

Men’s basketball student-athletes returned to campus starting July 6 with a phased move-in process. Indoor volleyball will follow during their regularly scheduled report time in late July. Women’s basketball has opted for a Phase 4 return.

All student-athletes will receive the Point of Care COVID-19 test as a part of their physicals and will not be allowed to participate in any activities until cleared by the Ochsner Care Team. Any student-athlete who tests positive for COVID-19 will be immediately isolated in a separate dorm and remain quarantined under state and university protocol. Student-athletes will be educated on proper safety protocols and provided masks to minimize exposure in common areas.

After consultation with head coach Keeshawn Davenport and the COVID-19 Athletics Task Force, the New Orleans women’s basketball program has decided to delay the start of its summer practice schedule due to the current environment surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with the recent rise of cases across the country.

“Coach Davenport, Kirsten Elleby (Associate AD/SWA and women’s basketball sport supervisor), Dena Freeman-Patton (Deputy AD/COO) and I had multiple phone calls over the past two weeks and we decided the combination of factors involved with women’s basketball was reason enough to create a different return to campus strategy for the team,” said Tim Duncan, Director of Athletics.

While the rise in cases across the country is particularly alarming, the team would have been asking student-athletes to travel to New Orleans from areas that are experiencing a great uptick in positive cases. Of note, there are six college freshmen who will be leaving home for the first time. Additionally, several members of the coaching staff are responsible for young children and/or older members of their families who are at a much greater risk to the novel coronavirus.

Below are some key guidelines that will be implemented and followed by New Orleans Athletics, in consultation with Ochsner Sports Medicine;

RETURN TO CAMPUS
– Staff and coaches will be allowed to return to campus during Phase B. All staff will be expected to complete the UNO self-assessment checklist daily found here: https://neworleans.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qKudYGtIoV0WEZ.
– Men’s basketball will be allowed on campus July 6-7 (or Phase B of university’s protocol). Fall sports will be allowed to return the week of July 27 and all other sports at the start of the fall semester.
– Athletic facilities will not be available to student-athletes until they are cleared.
– Face coverings should be worn by coaches, staff, and student-athletes in common areas.

RETURN TO PRACTICE
– If cleared, workouts and voluntary practice for men’s basketball begins on July 13.
– Athletic facilities will open to student-athletes on that day (July 13).
– Social distancing guidelines should be adhered to.

TESTING
– Those tested while off-campus must bring their results to ensure safety.
– POCT testing will be recommended and required for those with symptoms.
– If positive for COVID-19, a two-week self-isolation period with daily monitoring will be enacted. After the window, we will re-test.
– Should symptoms be present but negative for COVID-19, we will re-test in a few days and begin the two-week self-isolation period.

For the latest information from the University, visit https://www.uno.edu/covid-19.
Visit the CDC’s COVID-19 website at coronavirus.gov for information on how to protect yourself, what to do if you think you are sick, and more.

The 2019-20 season was canceled mid-March due to COVID-19 and the University moved to remote instruction.

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