Percy "Master P" Miller is out of his role as president of basketball operations and assistant coach for the University of New Orleans men's basketball program, the school confirmed in an email. The New Orleans native's exit effectively ends a high-profile, yearlong push to drag the Privateers back toward regional relevance. Since joining the staff last year, Miller had been hands-on with on-court coaching, fundraising and community outreach.
The university confirmed the change in an email, as reported by NOLA. That report said Miller "is no longer serving" in those positions and noted that he had also taken part in advisory conversations about UNO's pending move into the LSU system. NOLA quoted Miller saying, "this is bigger than basketball."
How Miller Landed At UNO
Miller was officially named UNO's president of basketball operations on Feb. 26, 2025, in a hybrid role that the university pitched as part coach, part fundraiser and part city ambassador, according to University of New Orleans Athletics. The job included helping on the court, assisting with recruiting, driving community engagement and pushing for upgrades to the program's facilities and overall profile.
On-Court Turnaround
The Privateers bottomed out in 2024-25, finishing 4-27 and in last place in Southland Conference play, according to Wikipedia. Coverage of Miller's stint has noted that the team bounced back to roughly 15 wins this season, with local outlets reporting a 15-18 mark. That jump from four wins to the mid-teens was widely tied to the jolt of energy around the program, which was often credited to recruiting moves, transfers and a cluster of on-campus upgrades linked to Miller's involvement.
Campus Politics And The LSU Transition
All of this unfolded while UNO prepared for a significant structural change: joining the LSU system. Lawmakers approved the governance shift, which is set to take effect next summer, according to WDSU. The transition has stirred questions among alumni and donors about facilities, athletic budgets and who will ultimately be in charge of steering UNO sports once the school is under LSU oversight.
What Is Next For Miller And The Privateers
Miller has repeatedly framed his work at UNO as being about more than the win-loss column, and he has told national outlets that other programs have noticed what he helped build, as reported by Sporting News. National and local coverage have also credited him with concrete investments in the program, from locker room improvements to a new jumbotron, which Axios highlighted as part of his bid to revive fan interest and attract recruits.
UNO has not yet named a replacement, and the university offered no additional details beyond the brief email cited in early reports. With a governance shakeup on the horizon and a fresh chapter for athletics looming, the open question in New Orleans is whether the momentum sparked during Miller's short but attention-grabbing stint can keep rolling without its most high-profile face.
