TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State men's basketball head coach Matthew Graves announced his newest addition to the coaching staff, Mark Slessinger.
 
Slessinger joins the staff after spending his time as the head coach at the University of New Orleans since 2011.
 
"I am absolutely thrilled that my good friend, Mark Slessinger, has decided to join the Sycamore Basketball family," said head coach Matthew Graves. "Coach Slessinger is bringing an unbelievable wealth of experience as a current DI head coach for the past 13 seasons. His knowledge and ability to effectively communicate are at the highest level. He will be a tremendous addition for not only the men's basketball program but the University and Wabash Valley area."
 
Slessinger as head coach left UNO with 171 wins being the most all-time at UNO. His teams have seen postseason play four times since 2017, including back-to-back appearances for the first time in program history.
 
His 2017 team was the Southland Conference Champions, the first title in 20 years, that season along with others garnered him multiple awards including:
 

• SLC Coach of the Year
• NABC's Region Co-Coach of the Year
• Louisiana Sportswriter's Association Coach of the Year
• Two-time Louisiana Basketball Coaches Association Major College Coach of the Year
• Eddie Robinson Award Winner – Presented by GNOSHOF – All-State Sugar Bowl
• University of New Orleans Employee of the Year

 
That conference championship team held All-American Selection Erik Thomas, a 10-year professional athlete overseas. 

Before UNO, the Ellettsville, Ind. native was at Northwestern State University as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator from 2000-11. Slessinger saw success at NSU, winning three conference titles, seeing the conference championship game five times, and advancing to the NCAA tournament twice winning a game each trip.
 
Prior to Northwestern State, Slessinger was in Holbrook, Ariz. at Northland Pioneer College, starting as assistant coach and earning the head coaching title for a season. In his three years at Northland, he was also held the role of Interim Athletic Director for 1.5 years.
 
Slessinger spent a year at Central Michigan University as an assistant coach, and prior began his coaching career at Aurora University, graduating from Aurora in 1996.
 
"This is an amazing opportunity to return home to Indiana and be a part of such a storied program that I grew up watching.  The success that ISU has had the past three years has been incredible and clearly shows the potential that is here and in the Wabash Valley within the greatest basketball state in the country.  I am excited to be able to serve our student-athletes here and be a part of such a dynamic and vibrant campus and community." 

"Coach Graves is someone I have known most of my life and has been one of my closest friends in the coaching business," said Coach Slessinger. "The opportunity to return home to work with him was one that I just couldn't pass up. He is one of the brightest basketball minds in the business and I am excited to be a part of such an exciting style of play."  

I know my wife, Toni, and our children Holden, Nola Ann, and Beaux can't wait to get here, be an active part of campus and the Wabash Valley, and, of course, to be so close to their grandparents and family. We are grateful to be a part of the ISU family."
 
While at Aurora, Slessinger was a two-sport athlete in basketball and soccer, earning the Aurora University Spartan award, the most coveted award at Aurora, given to the top graduating senior in the areas of curricular and extracurricular excellence.

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