NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans has several alums continuing their careers at the professional or amateur level in different sports. As updates become available on these former student-athletes, they will be posted to this page.
If you are aware of other former Privateers, who have continued to find success after completing their eligibility at UNO, please contact Jason Plotkin at jplotkin@uno.edu
BASEBALL
Brian Snitker - Atlanta Braves (MLB) third base coach
Johnny Giavotella - Kansas City Royals (MLB)
Joey Butler, Round Rock (AAA)
Jeff Lanning, Clearwater (A)
Ryan O'Shea, Frederick (A)
BASKETBALL
Bo McCalebb, Fenerbache Ulker - As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012-13 -Signed with Fenerbache Ulker in Turkey and reunite with former Montepaschi head coach Simone Pianigani... competed with Macedonia in the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying event, helping the squad to a first place finish in their group before falling to John Calipari's Dominican Republic squad... Helped lead Fenerbahce to a preseason victory over the Boston Celtics, a game featured on NBA-TV.
2011-12 - Named to the 2011 EuroBasket All-Tournament team alongside NBA players Tony Parker, Juan Carlos Navarro, Paul Gasol and Andrei Kirilenko after helping Macedonia to a fourth place finish... McCalebb averaged 21.4 points per game to finish behind NBA star Tony Parker of France (22.1 ppg)... Directed Montepaschi Siena to the Italian Super Cup for second straight year... Selected as 'fan's choice' for FIBA Europe Player of the Year... Will play with Macedonia in the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Event in Venezuela in July 2012... Named Alphonso Ford Award winner as top scorer in EuroLeague and a second-team All-EuroLeague selection... Earned Italian League MVP award for putting Montepaschi Siena atop the league standings... Team would win Italian League playoff title, second in a row.
2010-11 - Signed with Montepaschi Siena... Led Montepaschi Siena to the 2011 Italian Championship, earning league MVP honors along the way... Also helped the Italian-based squad to the EuroLeague Final Four, where they placed third... Gained dual citizenship and helped lead Macedonia to a qualifying spot in the 2011 Eurobasket (aka FIBA European Championships), the country's third berth.
2009-10 - Led Partizan Belgrade to a EuroLeague Final Four appearance, finishing fourth... Was named All-EuroLeague second-team selection... Serbian-based squad also won the 2010 Serbian National Championship, the 2010 Serbian National Cup and the 2010 Adriatic Championship.
2008-09 - Playedwith the Turkey-based squad Mersin Belediyesi... While with Mersin Belediyesi, he earned a spot in the 2009 Turkish All-Star Game and led the Turkish League in steals with 2.7 per game.
UNO -Scored 2,679 points to rank as the top scorer in both UNO and Sun Belt Conference history... At the conclusion of his playing career on the Lakefront, he ranked No. 21 in NCAA Division I history in career points scored.
Kyndall Dykes, Hoverla (Ukraine) - As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012-13 - Signed with Hoverla in the Ukraine Super League.
2011-12 - Named to Romanian League All-Star Game... Competing with U Mobitelco Cluj, a team that competed in the 2011 EuroChallenge, considered the the third-highest tier of European basketball pyramid... Averaged 19 points in EuroChallenge as team went 1-4... Led team to third place finish in regular season and a semifinal bid in playoff... Averaged 19.8 points and 6.1 rebounds, in addition to 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals while appearing in 36 games... Named to All-Romanian Second-Team, in addition to Import Player of the Year and spot on All-Defensive team...
2010-11 - Led U Mobitelco Cluj to Romanian League championship, earning MVP honors along the way.... Dykes ranked third in the league in scoring with 21.3 points per game and seventh in steals with 2.1, leading his team to a tie atop the league standings at the close of the regular season... At the completion of the season, Dykes was named EuroBasket.com's Romanian Player of the Year, Guard of the Year, Import of the Year, as well as selected to the all-Defensive and all-league first-team... Selected to Romanian All-Star game in vote of fans, also competing in slam dunk contest.
2009-10 - Played 20 games for U Mobitelco Cluj.... Averaged 22.0 minutes per contest. He shot 60.5 percent from the field and averaged 12.9 points and 2.5 rebounds a game. His 12.9 points ranked third on the team behind Zoran Krstanovic (20.2) and David Lawrence (17.0).
Shawn Malloy, Guerrero de Bogota (Columbia)- As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012-13 - Made the move to Guerreros de Bogota in Columbia...
2011-12 - Playing for expansion Iwate Big Bulls... Team finished campaign with a 19-33 record in the second tier of the Japanese basketball system... Malloy averaged 11.2 points and 10.5 rebounds on 48.6 shooting with 1.1 steals per game... Rebound total ranked sixth in the league.
Prior to 2011 - Has played professional ball in the International Basketball League (Vancouver and Portland), in addition to clubs in Mexico, Lebanon, Argentina and Syria, Uruguay and Bahrain.
UNO - Played 54 games from 2004 through 2006 after transferring from junior college.
Hector Romero, Tortamundos de Carabobob (Venezuela) - As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012-13 - Helped Venezuela to a 1-1 record in the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifier... was member of FIBA South American runner-up squad, first Venezuelan squad to reach FIBA South American championship title game since 1997... Entering second season with Tortamundos de Carabob.
2011-12 - Will participate with Venezuela in the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Event in Venezuela... Earned 'Domestic Player of the Year' honors, in addition to All-Venezuela Professional League first-team, all-Domestic first-team and all-Defensive team honors... Averaged team-best 16.4 points per game while contributing five rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals and one block a game for league championship series runner-up.
Prior to 2011 - the former Privateer played on the Venezuelan national squad that particpated in the 2002 World Championships... Previous stops include AEL 1964 Larissa, Polaris World Murcia, Legea Scafati and Montepaschi Siena.
UNO - In two seasons with UNO, Romero failed to score in double-figures only once - his last game. He averaged 20.2 points per game in 2001-02 on way to a Sun Belt Conference championship and was at 18.3 points prior to a season-ending injury his senior season. A double-double threat each time on the floor, Romero averaged 10.8 boards his junior year to lead the Sun Belt before ranking third with 9.1 his senior campaign.
Johnell Smith, Joensuun Kataja (Finland) - As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012-13 - Signed with Finland's Joensuun Kataja.
2011-12 - Remains on the Soderalje Kings roster for the 2011-12 season.. Team finished tied for regular season title with a 23-13 record and fell in the finals to their co-league title holders... Averaged team best 17.9 points while also adding 4.8 rebounds, 53.5 percent shooting from the field, 3.4 assists and 2.7 steals per game... Named League MVP, in addition to 'Import Player of the Year'. Also named to all-league first-team, all-import team and all-defensive team.
2010-11 - Smith was named EuroBasket.com Swedish Basketligan Player of the Week after a 38-point performance... Averaged a team-best 19.9 points per game over the 40 game season... Also averaged six rebounds, four assists and three steals a contest... Shot 48.8% from the field and 77.4% from the charity stripe.
2009-10 - Averaged 22.9 points, seven rebounds and a league-best 2.8 steals per game for the Svendborg Rabbits (Denmark).
UNO - A native of Melrose, Fla., Smith played in 60 contests from 2002-2004 with the Privateers under head coach Monte Towe...Smith averaged 13.1 points per game and shot 38.2 percent from the field.
Jaroslav Tyrna, Usti n/Labem (Czech Republic) - As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012-13 - Still with Usti n/Labem in the Czech Republic, the former Privateers' second season as a pro.
2011-12 - Plays with Usti n/Labem in Czech Republic... Team finished campaign with 15-25 record... Tyrna appeared in 37 games, averaging 6.6 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 51.7 percent from the field.
UNO - The first player signed by Joe Pasternack, Tyrna played on the Privateer basketball team from 2007 through 2011. A four-year letterwinner, Tyrna started 64 of the 106 contests he played including making an immediate impact with 12 points and six rebounds in the UNO 2007 upset of then No. 21 North Carolina State his freshman season.
GOLF
Adam Cornelson - As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012 - Playing on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour... Best finish a tie for 16th at the Times Colonist Island Savings Open in June... Other top 25 finish with a tie for 22nd at the Canadian Tour Players Cup in July... As of October, made five cuts in eight events.
2011 - Received non-exempt status on the Canadian Tour after tying for 17th at a Canadian tour qualifying event in California... Participated in nine Canadian Tour events, making the cut in five... Best finish was a T-27th at the ATB Financial Classic... Earned 4,239.31 in the five events he made the cut in... Made the court in four of final five events in wihch he competed.
2010 - Cornelson won two events as an amateur, claiming the Swan-e-set Classic and Nickel Heating Open on the Vancouver Golf Tour.
UNO - Played at UNO from 2005 through 2009... Earned all-Louisiana honors in 2009.
Casey Crain - As of Oct. 8, 2011
2011 - Currently playing on the Nationwide Tour... Participated in 18 Nationwide events during the 2011 season... Made the cut in four of the events... Best finish was T-15 in the BMW Charity Pro-Am... Other finishes included a T-56 at the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae, a T-40 at the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open and a 57th place showing at the Panama CLARO Championships.
2010 - Qualified for the final round of PGA Q-School and earned a spot on the Nationwide Tour for 2011... Prior to qualifying for the Nationwide Tour, Crain cashed a check in 49 of 61 Hooters Tour events and racked up almost $150,000 in earnings.
2009 - Best finish was a solo second place result at the 2009 Kandy Waters Memorial Classic.
UNO - Played at UNO from 1997 through 2001, earning a spot on the Sun Belt Conference's All-Time Golf team named in 2006 after 30 years of the league. Crain reached the second round of qualifying in 2009 and has bounced around the professional circuit, ranking No. 29 on the money list for the 2010 NGA Hooters Tour.
Kenji Murayama - As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012 - Currently ranked fifth on the season on the PGA of Mexico Tour...
2011 - Won the ninth stage of the the Tour Negra Modelo... Shot 1-under 71 to claim the tournament... Participated in six Canadian Professional Tour events in 2011... Best finish was a T-53rd in the Pacific Colombia Tour Championships... Also finished 61st in the Pacific Colombia Tour Barranquilla Open.
2010 - Claimed a tournament at El Tigre de Riviera Nayarit.
UNO - UNO - Won three tournament individual medalist honors while competing at UNO... In 2004-05, claimed the Austin Peay F&M Bank Intercollegiate by shooting a 205... Followed it up in 2005-06 with wins at the Grub-Mart Young Oil Intercollegiate and the Hal Sutton Invitational... Named 2006 Louisiana Player of the Year and first-team selection... A March 2006 Sun Belt Golfer of the Month... Ranks second in UNO history with two scores of 64, tying Stan Stopa (once) before Rick Gaillie (1971).
Jose Toledo - As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012 - Finished second in a PGA Mexico event in July... Has played in several Web.com Tour events with a best finish in the main field of 27th at the Price Cutter Championship in August.... Other top finishes are a third-place finish at the 'Walden on Lake Conroe Classic' (Jan. 16) after firing a 3-under 141 and a fourth-place showing at the Kingwood Lakes Classic with a 6-under 138... Finished 59th with an 8-over 288 in Nationwide event in Panama in March... Has attempted to qualify for several PGA, Nationwide events...
2011 - Won a local qualifier in U.S. Open qualifying... Failed to advance out of the second round of U.S. Open qualifying... Competing on the Adams Golf Pro Tour... In September, qualified with Pablo Acuna to represent Guatemala in the Omega World Cup... Acuna and Toledo finished third in a South American qualifier... Other tournament victory came in the Abierto de Haciena Nueva where he fired a 6-under 282 through four rounds to win the 22-player event... Top finishes included a sixth place showing at the Southwest Louisiana Lions Club Open and a 5th place finish in the PGA Valero Texas Open Monday qualifier.
2010 - Won the East Texas Open (Apr. 2010) on the Adams Golf Pro Tour... Win netted Guatemala mative $15,000... Finished second on the money list, earning $45,211.33 and third in the tour's Player of the Year standings... Reached the second round of qualifying for the PGA Tour.
UNO - During his career at UNO, Toledo was twice named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) Player of the Year while qualifying in 2007 to compete in the NCAA East Regional as an individual.
VOLLEYBALL
Jaci Bayley, VC Tirol (Austria) - As of Oct. 11, 2012
2012-13 - Recently retired from professional scene to take a job in the business world.
2011-12 - Playing with VC Tirol in the CEV International League beginning in December '11... Jaci led the team to a second place finish in the Women's First League of Austria, winning their first playoff series and then falling in their second series... Endeded the season as one of the top four teams in Austria, having their most successful seasons with Jaci as the starting setter.
2010 -11 - During 2010-11 season, team reached its highest placement by finishing as the best team in Division I. The placement earned TC Virol a spot in the CEV International League, which begins competition in December '11.
2009-10 - One of the great Privateer setters of all-time, Bayley began playing for Galeb (Montenegro) following her UNO career. Referred to as "Zaklin Bejli", the one-time Privateer setter moved into the starting setter role for her professional team in Montenegro during her first profesional season. In her first preseason tournament as a professional, the native of Irvine, Calif. received "Best Setter" honors. During the course of the year, she gained valuable volleyball experience by playing professional teams from Serbia, Croatia, Italy and Montenegro among others. The culmination of her first profesional year was a pair of championships for her Galeb squad, leading the team to the Montenegro Cup and the Montenegro National Championship, winning both over a team featuring the sister of former Privateer outside hitter Dobrilla Kovacevic.
Edina Dobi - Toulon (France) - As of Apr. 8, 2012
2011-12 - Currently a member of the Hungarian national team.... Playing for N1 level volleyball squad Toulon in the south of France. Dobi has transition to the starting outside and right-side hitter position after playing at the middle blocker position for most of her tenure at UNO.
