On the day when he was named head coach of the Mad Ants, Joey Meyer said one of his goals was to develop a “great relationship” with the team’s NBA affiliates. He will get his chance.

The Mad Ants announced Monday they will remain affiliated with the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks for the 2009-10 NBA D-League season.

“We’re happy to have our three affiliates back, especially the Bucks, from Joey’s prior relationship with them when he was the head coach of the Tulsa 66ers,” Mad Ants president Jeff Potter said.

Meyer is already close with the Bucks organization during his stint in Tulsa. It was Meyer who sent the Bucks one of their premiere point guards in Ramon Sessions.

In its first D-League season, Fort Wayne got 7-foot-1 center Cheikh Samb from the Detroit Pistons for a brief period. Last season the Pistons sent two players for two games – Alex Acker and Walter Sharpe.

Indiana, which has been an affiliate from the first season two years ago, and Milwaukee, added to the affiliate list last season, have not sent players to the Mad Ants.

“Obviously we want them to send their players, but it has to work for them, too,” Potter said. “I know Joey’s been talking to them quite a bit, making sure he’s staying in contact. But ultimately they have to feel comfortable with Joey. He’s the one who’s going to be on the court with them. I know he reached out to them after the draft, and he’s reaching out to them now.”

Potter said the agreement with the affiliates is on a year-to-year basis.

“I do know that teams feel comfortable sending players down to Joey,” Potter said. “When he was at Asheville (N.C.), when he was at Tulsa, and just from some of my conversations during the coaching search, I think there’s already a comfort level whether it’s the Bucks, Pacers or Pistons of sending a player down knowing that those players are going to get the coaching and development that they’re looking for.”

The Mad Ants’ schedule will be announced later.

stwarden@jg.net