New Orleans to join Southland Conference

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FRISCO, Texas, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- 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.