UNO head coach Joe Pasternack is entering his third year on the Lakefront in 2009-10, and he has already given the program something it needed most: Stability.

Becoming the school's third head coach in three years in July 2007, Pasternack quickly made his mark. In 2007-08, he led UNO to 19 wins, the school's most since 1997, and helped the Privateers defeat a nationally-ranked team (then-No. 21 NC State) for the first time since 1993.

The Privateers were the only team in the country to start the season 3-0 with all three wins coming on the road. UNO ended up winning more games (11) before Jan. 1 in school history.

He quickly put his stamp on the UNO program by bringing in 11 newcomers for 2008-09 after his inaugural squad lost six seniors. The recruiting class was ranked among the best in the Sun Belt Conference.

He will start his third year with a roster totally recruited by himself and his staff. But it is possibly off the court where Pasternack has made his biggest contribution.

The 32-year old was instrumental in the athletic department receiving the largest gift in school history. Local businessmen John Georges and former UNO standout Gabe Corchiani donated $1 million to the basketball program, and the gift was used to design a brand new locker room at Lakefront Arena, as well as create a new video room. 

He also helped organize a roast for former UNO head coach Tim Floyd, which raised $50,000. The event funded UNO's 2009 Labor Day weekend trip to Cancun, Mexico.

The 11th head coach in UNO history, Pasternack was a perfect fit with his New Orleans ties (a graduate of Metairie Park Country Day School) and impressive coaching pedigree.

For four years, he studied under legendary great Bobby Knight as a student manager at Indiana. After graduating with a marketing degree in 1999, Pasternack then embarked on an eight-year stint at California.

Working under head coach Ben Braun, now the head man at Rice, Pasternack was involved in every area of the program. Cutting his teeth as the video coordinator, he was promoted to assistant coach in 2001 and spent six seasons on the Berkeley bench before moving to the Crescent City.

In his 14-year basketball career, Pasternack has been a part of eight NCAA Tournament teams.
 
Pasternack and his wife, Lindsay, have a son -- Joe IV.


WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT JOE PASTERNACK
BEN BRAUN, RICE HEAD COACH
"This is a great opportunity for Joe to become a head coach, especially in his hometown of New Orleans. I feel that he will work hard in continuing to build the UNO program. Joe has been instrumental in our recruiting, scouting and game preparation over the years. He has shown tremendous growth during his tenure at Cal and works as hard as any coach that I have known."

BOB KNIGHT, COLLEGE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME COACH
“He’s a very bright guy and works extremely hard. I think he will do an excellent job at New Orleans. In fact, I recommended him very strongly for the job (in 2006).”

PETE NEWELL, FORMER HEAD COACH AT CALIFORNIA AND BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
"Joe is a bright guy with a really good basketball background. He learned a lot under Coach Knight and Coach Braun. People at New Orleans may have to calm him down a little because he works too hard sometimes. He understands the basics of coaching, and he’s worked with some of the best in the business. He has a great basketball mind, and he will be a guy there for the long haul. He is not a guy looking to get the next job.”