Ticknor newest Ants coach

Mad Antics

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Career minor league basketball coach Duane Ticknor is to be named the new coach of the Mad Ants, The Journal Gazette has learned.

Although no contract has been signed or finalized, Ticknor, who coached this past season in Korea, is expected to be named the Mad Ants coach for the 2012-13 NBA Development League season.

Ticknor, who led the Dakota Wizards to the D-League playoffs during his tenure from 2007-08 and 08-09, replaces Steve Gansey as the Mad Ants head coach, and will be the fifth coach in what will be the franchise's sixth D-League season.

Gansey, an assistant who became interim when Joey Meyer was released in January, 2012, had a 9-26 record in the final 35 games of the season. Meyer was released after a 5-10 start to the season.

Ticknor also served as assistant coach at Sioux Falls.

He coached the CBA Gary Steelheads from 2002-05, and was an assistant with the Rapid City Thrillers from 1989-92.

A four-time IBA Coach of the Year, he coached the Black Hills Posse (1995-99), Dakota Wizards (99-00) and Siouxland Bombers (2000-01). He won the 1997 IBA championship with Black Hills.

Gansey has been asked to return to the Mad Ants as an assistant coach.