https://forum.privateerisland.net/ Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:54:28 +0000 MyBB https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=59 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:07:00 +0000 Slidell]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=59

PRIVATEERS BASKETBALL
News • Features • Analysis • History

More Than Paint Is Changing At Lakefront Arena

With Ervin Johnson, John Brady and a new level of investment behind coach Stacy Hollowell, the Privateers are entering a different kind of era.

Privateers Hoops Insider
Oct 15

By Scott Kushner

If you’re looking for a reason to believe in Privateers basketball again, all it takes is a glance at their bench.

Sitting behind third-year coach Stacy Hollowell is the school’s greatest player, former All-American Ervin Johnson, and Louisiana’s most decorated basketball coach this century, John Brady.

Both returned to LSU New Orleans within the past two months with the same mission in mind.

“These guys have seen it and done it here,” Hollowell said. “And they want to get it back to where it was when they were here.”

Each played a part in bringing the program to its apex in the 1990s (Johnson as a star player and Brady as an assistant coach under Tim Floyd) and now they have returned to the Privateers believing they can empower Hollowell to guide the program back to those heights.

Their arrival came at the perfect time.

Because it’s a powerful signal of the metamorphosis occurring inside Lakefront Arena this offseason.

To anyone within the program, the changes are abundantly obvious. Alongside the Privateers’ new school name, colors, and branding is a wave of investment and strategic alignment not experienced on this campus in decades.

From the fresh paint on the arena’s court, walls and walkways to renovations in the training room, to a reasonable non-conference schedule, all the way to the availability of team-issued gear, the improvements are everywhere.

It is, unquestionably, a new era.

And it is far deeper than purple-and-gold Pantones and some recognizable names on the staff.

“When you can bring a player in and tell a parent we are going to take care of your kid, and it actually looks like we are going to take care of your kid, it’s a lot different,” Hollowell said. “We have made a lot of internal strides here, that, outside looking in, most people would not understand.

“Most people would think it’s always been the way it’s starting to look now. And it hasn’t. It has radically changed what’s possible here.”

Those leaps demonstrate faith in Hollowell from the people surrounding him.

It’s something he’s earned through more than two decades in the coaching business, highlighted by winning the 2022 NAIA national championship across town at Loyola.

Now, with the backing of a new administration and a pair of Louisiana basketball icons following him into a new age of Privateers’ basketball, considerable momentum propels Hollowell into the 2026-2027 campaign.

“We all know what Stacy is capable of,” Brady said. “And that’s where all of this really starts. From (new athletic director) Mike Giorlando, to Ervin, to me and all these players, we all know he can do this job and so we are all just here to support him.

“And for him to welcome on all of this change shows he is about the right thing, which is not doing what’s just best for him and his career, but what’s best for this program and getting it to a place where it can win a lot of games.”

And as the Privateers took to the officially begin their first season as LSU New Orleans, that message was not lost on the current roster. They arrived to campus before Brady and Johnson even came aboard, allowing them to experience the shift in real time.

“They wouldn’t have come here if they didn’t believe in the program,” said guard Nick Jones, who transferred to LSU New Orleans this offseason after averaging 14.9 points per game at Wagner. “If those two guys didn’t see nothing in us, I don’t think they would’ve just come here and wasted their time.

“Now we have to show them they did the right thing.”

It’s the first step on the way to something more meaningful.

To reconnect the school with the city of New Orleans, and the alumni and fans who have drifted away since Johnson and Brady left Lakefront Arena.

While the detachment is understandable, considering the prolonged period of uncertainty, Hollowell is eager to tell anyone willing who’ll listen that a new era has arrived. The shifts at the top of the school, and within the program itself, have put the Privateers and their university in complete alignment.

There’s a new identity, a new administration, a revamped staff and roster— all benefitting from the greater resources Hollowell has strategically deployed. Johnson and Brady have returned, the university has made the kind of investments the athletic department has been begging for, and the program is reaping benefits from all of it.

While none of it guarantees what happens once the games begin, the momentum should be enough to garner a second look from those who have stayed away.

And it’s a goal Hollowell takes personally.

“I grew up coming here, and I know what it looked and felt like when Ervin and coach Brady were out there,” Hollowell said. “And when I got here, I wanted that back right away. But the reality was different here. It felt like there was a hard cap on what was possible just because of what the school was going through.

“And now, where we are at, there’s a lot more out there to be gained. And we want to take it.”



Welcome to Privateers Hoops Insider,

Thank you for being a part of the community that cares most about LSU New Orleans basketball.

This Substack is built for the people closest to the program — the supporters, longtime fans and friends who have a genuine stake in the success and future of Privateers basketball.

Through conversations with head coach Stacy Hollowell, his staff and players, plus behind-the-scenes perspectives and original reporting on the men’s basketball program, Privateers Hoops Insider will offer a closer look at the people, decisions and ambitions shaping the team.

The goal is simple: To bring you closer to the program you care about, with insight and access you won’t find in a box score or recap.

Whether you’ve followed the Privateers for decades or are reconnecting with the program, we’re glad you’re here. Your interest and support matter, and this is another way to stay connected to the team and the people working to move it forward.

Thanks for reading, and go Privateers!

Scott Kushner
Privateers Hoops Insider]]>

PRIVATEERS BASKETBALL
News • Features • Analysis • History

More Than Paint Is Changing At Lakefront Arena

With Ervin Johnson, John Brady and a new level of investment behind coach Stacy Hollowell, the Privateers are entering a different kind of era.

Privateers Hoops Insider
Oct 15

By Scott Kushner

If you’re looking for a reason to believe in Privateers basketball again, all it takes is a glance at their bench.

Sitting behind third-year coach Stacy Hollowell is the school’s greatest player, former All-American Ervin Johnson, and Louisiana’s most decorated basketball coach this century, John Brady.

Both returned to LSU New Orleans within the past two months with the same mission in mind.

“These guys have seen it and done it here,” Hollowell said. “And they want to get it back to where it was when they were here.”

Each played a part in bringing the program to its apex in the 1990s (Johnson as a star player and Brady as an assistant coach under Tim Floyd) and now they have returned to the Privateers believing they can empower Hollowell to guide the program back to those heights.

Their arrival came at the perfect time.

Because it’s a powerful signal of the metamorphosis occurring inside Lakefront Arena this offseason.

To anyone within the program, the changes are abundantly obvious. Alongside the Privateers’ new school name, colors, and branding is a wave of investment and strategic alignment not experienced on this campus in decades.

From the fresh paint on the arena’s court, walls and walkways to renovations in the training room, to a reasonable non-conference schedule, all the way to the availability of team-issued gear, the improvements are everywhere.

It is, unquestionably, a new era.

And it is far deeper than purple-and-gold Pantones and some recognizable names on the staff.

“When you can bring a player in and tell a parent we are going to take care of your kid, and it actually looks like we are going to take care of your kid, it’s a lot different,” Hollowell said. “We have made a lot of internal strides here, that, outside looking in, most people would not understand.

“Most people would think it’s always been the way it’s starting to look now. And it hasn’t. It has radically changed what’s possible here.”

Those leaps demonstrate faith in Hollowell from the people surrounding him.

It’s something he’s earned through more than two decades in the coaching business, highlighted by winning the 2022 NAIA national championship across town at Loyola.

Now, with the backing of a new administration and a pair of Louisiana basketball icons following him into a new age of Privateers’ basketball, considerable momentum propels Hollowell into the 2026-2027 campaign.

“We all know what Stacy is capable of,” Brady said. “And that’s where all of this really starts. From (new athletic director) Mike Giorlando, to Ervin, to me and all these players, we all know he can do this job and so we are all just here to support him.

“And for him to welcome on all of this change shows he is about the right thing, which is not doing what’s just best for him and his career, but what’s best for this program and getting it to a place where it can win a lot of games.”

And as the Privateers took to the officially begin their first season as LSU New Orleans, that message was not lost on the current roster. They arrived to campus before Brady and Johnson even came aboard, allowing them to experience the shift in real time.

“They wouldn’t have come here if they didn’t believe in the program,” said guard Nick Jones, who transferred to LSU New Orleans this offseason after averaging 14.9 points per game at Wagner. “If those two guys didn’t see nothing in us, I don’t think they would’ve just come here and wasted their time.

“Now we have to show them they did the right thing.”

It’s the first step on the way to something more meaningful.

To reconnect the school with the city of New Orleans, and the alumni and fans who have drifted away since Johnson and Brady left Lakefront Arena.

While the detachment is understandable, considering the prolonged period of uncertainty, Hollowell is eager to tell anyone willing who’ll listen that a new era has arrived. The shifts at the top of the school, and within the program itself, have put the Privateers and their university in complete alignment.

There’s a new identity, a new administration, a revamped staff and roster— all benefitting from the greater resources Hollowell has strategically deployed. Johnson and Brady have returned, the university has made the kind of investments the athletic department has been begging for, and the program is reaping benefits from all of it.

While none of it guarantees what happens once the games begin, the momentum should be enough to garner a second look from those who have stayed away.

And it’s a goal Hollowell takes personally.

“I grew up coming here, and I know what it looked and felt like when Ervin and coach Brady were out there,” Hollowell said. “And when I got here, I wanted that back right away. But the reality was different here. It felt like there was a hard cap on what was possible just because of what the school was going through.

“And now, where we are at, there’s a lot more out there to be gained. And we want to take it.”



Welcome to Privateers Hoops Insider,

Thank you for being a part of the community that cares most about LSU New Orleans basketball.

This Substack is built for the people closest to the program — the supporters, longtime fans and friends who have a genuine stake in the success and future of Privateers basketball.

Through conversations with head coach Stacy Hollowell, his staff and players, plus behind-the-scenes perspectives and original reporting on the men’s basketball program, Privateers Hoops Insider will offer a closer look at the people, decisions and ambitions shaping the team.

The goal is simple: To bring you closer to the program you care about, with insight and access you won’t find in a box score or recap.

Whether you’ve followed the Privateers for decades or are reconnecting with the program, we’re glad you’re here. Your interest and support matter, and this is another way to stay connected to the team and the people working to move it forward.

Thanks for reading, and go Privateers!

Scott Kushner
Privateers Hoops Insider]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=58 Wed, 14 Oct 2026 02:38:21 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=58 https://abcnews.com/Sports/wireStory/fix...-137243545

Should have been 60 years.   He ruined my season and the kids he recruited to do it.]]> https://abcnews.com/Sports/wireStory/fix...-137243545

Should have been 60 years.   He ruined my season and the kids he recruited to do it.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=57 Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:31:30 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=57 https://privateersports.com/news/2026/10...ekend.aspx

https://crescentcitysports.com/2026-priv...g-weekend/

Some familiar names in this years Hall of Fame class.]]> https://privateersports.com/news/2026/10...ekend.aspx

https://crescentcitysports.com/2026-priv...g-weekend/

Some familiar names in this years Hall of Fame class.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=56 Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:25:08 +0000 Slidell]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=56
But the new uniforms dropped and they look pretty good.

Biggest thing - NEW ORLEANS across the chest!]]>
But the new uniforms dropped and they look pretty good.

Biggest thing - NEW ORLEANS across the chest!]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=55 Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:23:17 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=55 https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/louisi...26893.html

I just thought I would share this on the blog.]]> https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/louisi...26893.html

I just thought I would share this on the blog.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=54 Sun, 27 Sep 2026 01:37:43 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=54
I realize it was the blink of an eye but it is there with the other LSU campuses.]]>
I realize it was the blink of an eye but it is there with the other LSU campuses.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=53 Sat, 26 Sep 2026 15:50:28 +0000 clmerrit]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=53
https://privateersports.com/sports/mens-...l/schedule

Still waiting on road game times.]]>
https://privateersports.com/sports/mens-...l/schedule

Still waiting on road game times.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=52 Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:30:07 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=52 https://lailluminator.com/2026/09/24/lsu...4e0e4fb2f6

Maybe if they didn't have the massive buyouts it would help their bottom line.     I would also believe the "NIL Funds" being secured are not going to the TAF and Department like in the past.   

I hope they figure it out up river.     Don't want the "shock absorber" budget deal like we had 20 - 30 years ago.]]> https://lailluminator.com/2026/09/24/lsu...4e0e4fb2f6

Maybe if they didn't have the massive buyouts it would help their bottom line.     I would also believe the "NIL Funds" being secured are not going to the TAF and Department like in the past.   

I hope they figure it out up river.     Don't want the "shock absorber" budget deal like we had 20 - 30 years ago.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=51 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 18:06:00 +0000 southshore]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=51
Go rocketeers!]]>
Go rocketeers!]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=50 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:40:43 +0000 WhyCantYouSpell]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=50
I've also never really liked BrUNO.

The branding has been great, mascot. Eh whatever

Maybe I'm crazy, but I'd like to see a nod to our older mascot return. 

if the department has to buy a new one anyway.

Bring back Laffite the Instigator.]]>
I've also never really liked BrUNO.

The branding has been great, mascot. Eh whatever

Maybe I'm crazy, but I'd like to see a nod to our older mascot return. 

if the department has to buy a new one anyway.

Bring back Laffite the Instigator.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=49 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 01:33:25 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=49 https://lailluminator.com/2026/09/15/enr...w-orleans/

Well this is not a bad report.     I just hope we stay on the positive side of the financial ledger and our enrollment increases steadily over the next several years.]]> https://lailluminator.com/2026/09/15/enr...w-orleans/

Well this is not a bad report.     I just hope we stay on the positive side of the financial ledger and our enrollment increases steadily over the next several years.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=48 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:52:12 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=48 https://csrwire.com/press-release/enterg...nergy-lab/

Great news as this will strengthen LSU New Olreans ability to attract future engineering students to the campus.]]> https://csrwire.com/press-release/enterg...nergy-lab/

Great news as this will strengthen LSU New Olreans ability to attract future engineering students to the campus.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=47 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:49:46 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=47 https://www.nola.com/news/education/lsu-...the-latest

We set a goal and came up short which is disappointing but also not unexpected by me and honestly I think it was a good goal to have.    I think the University will address this shortfall with a more targeted approach for who they want on campus based on JR's comments yesterday at the Founders Club meeting.    

"With 5,531 students registered as of Sept. 3, enrollment fell short of the target. Weiland said the decline was partly due to the loss of about 150 students from Slidell High School who stopped participating in the university’s dual-enrollment program. This year, LSUNO doubled its dual-enrollment fees from $150 to $300 per course to match LSU’s prices."

I also believe the increase in fees and tuition are a factor for some people.    However if they are from the New Orleans area I would hope that they look at the total cost of staying a home vs going out of the city for their education in the future.   


"A decade ago, the majority of UNO’s students came from top-performing high schools, but now many come from lower-performing schools, he said. Students who are unprepared for rigorous coursework often struggle in college and end up leaving."

I would expect that the recruiting team will have to really make a push to reengage the local Catholic and top tier magnet schools.    The quality of the student and their ability to hit the ground that first year is critical.  It was a mistake to just take "anyone" but there should be plan for those who need the extra help to enroll in Delgado / Nunez and have a much easier move to the LSU New Orleans campus after their core courses are successfully completed.   Even a dual enrollment type set up.

The target is going to be not only the city but also out of state students and some international students looking for a "value" in the LSU system.]]> https://www.nola.com/news/education/lsu-...the-latest

We set a goal and came up short which is disappointing but also not unexpected by me and honestly I think it was a good goal to have.    I think the University will address this shortfall with a more targeted approach for who they want on campus based on JR's comments yesterday at the Founders Club meeting.    

"With 5,531 students registered as of Sept. 3, enrollment fell short of the target. Weiland said the decline was partly due to the loss of about 150 students from Slidell High School who stopped participating in the university’s dual-enrollment program. This year, LSUNO doubled its dual-enrollment fees from $150 to $300 per course to match LSU’s prices."

I also believe the increase in fees and tuition are a factor for some people.    However if they are from the New Orleans area I would hope that they look at the total cost of staying a home vs going out of the city for their education in the future.   


"A decade ago, the majority of UNO’s students came from top-performing high schools, but now many come from lower-performing schools, he said. Students who are unprepared for rigorous coursework often struggle in college and end up leaving."

I would expect that the recruiting team will have to really make a push to reengage the local Catholic and top tier magnet schools.    The quality of the student and their ability to hit the ground that first year is critical.  It was a mistake to just take "anyone" but there should be plan for those who need the extra help to enroll in Delgado / Nunez and have a much easier move to the LSU New Orleans campus after their core courses are successfully completed.   Even a dual enrollment type set up.

The target is going to be not only the city but also out of state students and some international students looking for a "value" in the LSU system.]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=46 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:19:48 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=46 https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-for...Q&zone=usa

A great way to support the Men's basketball program.     

PRIVATEER NATION, 

We would like to introduce the third year of the Press Drive 6th Man Club. Your membership will give you up close and personal access to Privateer Basketball. 

Your support will improve our players' experience directly and help us upgrade facilities and amenities that will improve our players' performance as well as future recruiting efforts. 

The Press Drive 6th Man Club will be instrumental for our staff to spread our message to The Privateer Fan Base. We need your help to reinvigorate the vibrant fan base that many of us experienced in the past: a hostile, high energy environment that directly impacts winning and sets the stage for recruiting for years to come. 

The Lakefront Arena is a fantastic venue for college basketball! Let's make it the toughest place to play in America! 

Thank you for joining the Press Drive 6th Man Club and for buying season tickets for the 2026-27 season. I am honored to be the head coach at LSU New Orleans, and I look forward to having a lot of fun with you and New Orleans Basketball this year. 

GO PRIVATEERS!

Stacy Hollowell 

Head Men's Basketball Coach

6th Man Benefits

YOUNG ALUMNI LEVEL $150: Invite to Privateer Men's Basketball Practices 

6TH MAN LEVEL $250: Video Board Recognition on Gameday and on the UNO Privateers website; Invite to Privateer Men's Basketball Practices 

PRIVATEER LEVEL $500: All 6th Man Level membership benefits; A Special Edition "Press Drive" Polo 

HEAD COACH LEVEL $1,000: All Privateer Level membership benefits; A Breakfast/Lunch with the Coaching Staff 

FULL COURT PRESS LEVEL $2,500: All Head Coach Level membership benefits; Select opportunities to travel with the team*; Be an Honorary Coach at One 
Home Game in the Lakefront Arena (*Hotels, flights, and meals to be paid for by the 6th Man member.)  ]]> https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-for...Q&zone=usa

A great way to support the Men's basketball program.     

PRIVATEER NATION, 

We would like to introduce the third year of the Press Drive 6th Man Club. Your membership will give you up close and personal access to Privateer Basketball. 

Your support will improve our players' experience directly and help us upgrade facilities and amenities that will improve our players' performance as well as future recruiting efforts. 

The Press Drive 6th Man Club will be instrumental for our staff to spread our message to The Privateer Fan Base. We need your help to reinvigorate the vibrant fan base that many of us experienced in the past: a hostile, high energy environment that directly impacts winning and sets the stage for recruiting for years to come. 

The Lakefront Arena is a fantastic venue for college basketball! Let's make it the toughest place to play in America! 

Thank you for joining the Press Drive 6th Man Club and for buying season tickets for the 2026-27 season. I am honored to be the head coach at LSU New Orleans, and I look forward to having a lot of fun with you and New Orleans Basketball this year. 

GO PRIVATEERS!

Stacy Hollowell 

Head Men's Basketball Coach

6th Man Benefits

YOUNG ALUMNI LEVEL $150: Invite to Privateer Men's Basketball Practices 

6TH MAN LEVEL $250: Video Board Recognition on Gameday and on the UNO Privateers website; Invite to Privateer Men's Basketball Practices 

PRIVATEER LEVEL $500: All 6th Man Level membership benefits; A Special Edition "Press Drive" Polo 

HEAD COACH LEVEL $1,000: All Privateer Level membership benefits; A Breakfast/Lunch with the Coaching Staff 

FULL COURT PRESS LEVEL $2,500: All Head Coach Level membership benefits; Select opportunities to travel with the team*; Be an Honorary Coach at One 
Home Game in the Lakefront Arena (*Hotels, flights, and meals to be paid for by the 6th Man member.)  ]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=45 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:01:43 +0000 SECOER]]> https://forum.privateerisland.net/showthread.php?tid=45 https://privateersports.com/staff-directory

A quick look at the staffing in the department and it looks like we added positions to steer this department into the future. 

Including Brady and Ervin, the department appears to have made some solid hires.     

Jennifer Archibald has been added to the executive staff as Associate Athletic Director for Business Affairs and Senior Woman Administrator 

https://privateersports.com/staff-direct...hibald/514

We have a Ticket Coordinator and Ticketing and Business Services Graduate Assistant

We also have an Assistant Business Manager

I am not sure that we have ever had this type of staff in the past.     ]]> https://privateersports.com/staff-directory

A quick look at the staffing in the department and it looks like we added positions to steer this department into the future. 

Including Brady and Ervin, the department appears to have made some solid hires.     

Jennifer Archibald has been added to the executive staff as Associate Athletic Director for Business Affairs and Senior Woman Administrator 

https://privateersports.com/staff-direct...hibald/514

We have a Ticket Coordinator and Ticketing and Business Services Graduate Assistant

We also have an Assistant Business Manager

I am not sure that we have ever had this type of staff in the past.     ]]>