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Steve Gansey Returns to Fort Wayne as Mad Ants Head Coach

FORT WAYNE, IN – The Fort Wayne Mad Ants, presented by Lutheran Health Network, and the Indiana Pacers announced today that they have named Steve Gansey as Mad Ants head coach for the 2015-16 NBA Development League season.

Gansey returns to Fort Wayne after his stint as an Associate Head Coach with the D-League Canton Charge during the 2014-15 season. He also served the beginning of the D-League's offseason in a support role, assisting in practices and workouts for the Cleveland Cavaliers during their postseason run.

As for his upcoming return to Fort Wayne, Gansey states, "I'm extremely honored and privileged to be a part of the Pacers organization and named Head Coach of the Mad Ants. I'm looking forward to the opportunity and returning to Fort Wayne, the city where my coaching career first began."

Entering his seventh season in a coaching role, Gansey's career with the Mad Ants began back in 2009-10 when he served as one of the team's basketball interns. After two seasons as the first assistant coach, Gansey took over the interim head coaching role for a portion of the Mad Ants 2011-12 season before returning to his assistant coaching duties that following year. Gansey served a vital role in the development of Mad Ants players such Ron Howard, Darnell Lazare, Rob Kurz and the 2013 D-League Rookie of the Year Tony Mitchell. He also aided the team in earning not only their first playoff berth in franchise history, but later their first NBA D-League Championship in 2014. Through his time with Fort Wayne, Gansey has coached under Duane Ticknor and Conner Henry, who now hold assistant coaching roles with the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic respectively.

Prior to his coaching experiences in the NBA Development League, Gansey helped as an assistant coach/support staff for the USA U19 National Basketball Team where he worked with players such as Stephen Curry, DeAndre Jordan and Tyreke Evans.

Though strong in his coaching experiences, Gansey's college playing career began at Cleveland State, where he played for head coach Mike Garland, who now serves under Michigan State's Tom Izzo. He then concluded his collegiate basketball career at Ashland University.

Mad Ants General Manager, Brian Levy comments, "Steve has built a reputation as a smart, hard working, energetic coach. He has a strong development background, but also brings with him a winning, championship pedigree. His history and familiarity with Fort Wayne will only serve to strengthen ties within the community. We couldn't be more excited to welcome Steve to the Pacers family, as the next Mad Ants Head Coach."

Gansey will be welcomed back to Fort Wayne in the Mad Ants season opener as they host the newest member of the D-League, Raptors 905, Saturday, November 14th at 7:30 p.m. at Allen Co. War Memorial Coliseum.