News release from the Mad Ants:
Mad Ants Finalize Coaching Staff for 2015-16 Season
(October 21, 2015) – The Fort Wayne Mad Ants, presented by Lutheran Health Network, announced today the completion of the 2015-2016 coaching staff serving under head coach Steve Gansey.
“I am excited about the staff that we’ve been able to assemble. This was a unique situation because each staff member has ties to the city of Fort Wayne along with the Pacers organization. We thought that because of the success of the organization, it would be important to have some continuity,” Mad Ants head coach Steve Gansey said in regards to his staff.
Stephen Graham returns to Fort Wayne in a new role as the team’s assistant coach. Graham spent the 2011-2012 season playing with the team under Joey Meyer. Graham has extensive playing experience through his many years in the NBA, with two of those seasons spent with the Indiana Pacers in 2007 and 2008.
Entering his third season with the Mad Ants, Dylan Murphy remains in his previous role as assistant coach. Murphy spent the last two seasons working under former Mad Ants head coach Conner Henry as an assistant coach and video coordinator.
Jonah Herscu returns to Fort Wayne after spending the past two seasons with the Chicago Bulls as a video coordinator/scout and the previous three seasons with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky as an assistant coach/video coordinator. Herscu will re-join the Mad Ants as an assistant coach/head of player development.
Kevin Bloom has spent the past three seasons with the Mad Ants coaching staff as an assistant coach with a focus in player development and scouting. Bloom served as a member of the coaching staff that led the Mad Ants to their Championship in 2014.
New to the Mad Ants coaching staff this season, Jason Manikowski will step in as the team’s head strength and conditioning coach. Head Athletic Trainer, Matt Campbell, returns for his second season with the Mad Ants.
“I wanted people around me that I’ve known for a while and who I can trust. We also wanted to add some people with different coaching backgrounds and experience. It is important to us to have coaches with good character that are going to do things the right way on and off the court,” Gansey concludes.
The Indiana Pacers’ affiliate will tip-off the 2015-16 NBA Development League regular season at Allen Co. War Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, November 14th at 7:30 p.m. when they host the Raptors 905, the D-League’s newest member. The Mad Ants will kick off their ninth season by celebrating Pacers Night at their home opener. To speak with a Mad Ants representative about season tickets, premium seating and group discount opportunities call 260-469-HOOP or visit fortwayne.gleague.nba.com today!
About the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and the NBA Development League
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants, presented by Lutheran Health Network, are the NBA Development affiliate of the NBA Indiana Pacers. Established in 2007, the Mad Ants have marked their success in back-to-back Championship appearances, coming out on top in 2014 and returning to the Championship series in 2015. The 2014-2015 season also named the Mad Ants as the NBA Development League Development Champions, which recognizes the team that best embodies the NBA D-League’s goals of developing NBA-caliber basketball talent through call-ups and assignments. The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 19 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2015-16 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 38 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2014-15 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on fortwayne.gleague.nba.com.
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