NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans athletic department formally announced Wednesday that it will expand its athletic program with the addition of track and field which will begin competition during the 2012-13 academic year.

The University's track and field program will consist of men's and women's indoor and outdoor components. The four sports give UNO a total of 14 sports, satisfying the NCAA Division I sport sponsorship requirement for the first time since the impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The announcement takes place in-conjunction with the posting of the head track and field coaching position.

In addition to their duties with the track and field program, this coach will also oversee the Privateer cross country programs. UNO reinstated cross country in 2011 with the sport directed on an interim basis by former UNO track standout and athletic department chief financial officer Ola Adegboye.

The University has a proud history in track and field, most notably serving as a host of the Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships on multiple occasions. UNO hosted the event at Tad Gormley Stadium three times since the turn of the 21st century, most recently in 2005.

Current students or prospective students interested in competing in these sports are encouraged to fill out the recruiting questionnaires available on UNOPrivateers.com. This information will be distributed to the new head coach upon their arrival.