Mad Ants Name Duane Ticknor Head Coach
By: Randy Ziemnik
Updated: May 30, 2012
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants announced today that they have named Duane Ticknor as their head coach for the 2012-13 season. Ticknor has signed a two year contract with the team, keeping him in Fort Wayne through the 2013-2014 season.
"We are very excited to have Coach Ticknor join the Mad Ants," said team President Jeff Potter. "Duane is well-respected by his peers in the basketball community, and his knowledge and skill in coaching is exceptional. Most notably, he has a history of winning everywhere he's been. We are looking forward to having him get started this summer in building the winning team that our loyal fans and this great city deserve."
"I couldn't be more thrilled to be joining the best organization in the D-League," Coach Ticknor said. "Fort Wayne is one of the best markets in our league, and I am excited to get to work and turn the Mad Ants into the winning team that I know they can be."
Ticknor has 17 years of head coaching experience at the collegiate and professional levels, including the NBA D-League. He served as head coach for the Dakota Wizards and led them to the playoffs in each of his two seasons there, with his 2007-08 team finishing 29-21 and winning the Central Division title. He then moved on to the Sioux Falls Skyforce from 2009-11, where he spent two seasons as assistant coach.
A minor league coaching veteran, Ticknor has a combined IBA-CBA record of 197-121. During his career in the IBA, Ticknor assumed the role of head coach for the Black Hills Posse (1995-99), Dakota Wizards (1999-00), and Siouxland Bombers (2000-01). In six seasons with the IBA, Ticknor advanced to the finals three times, won a championship in 1997, and was named Coach of the Year in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000. He spent time in the CBA as head coach of the Gary Steelheads (2002-05) and assistant coach of the Rapid City Thrillers (1989-92).
The South Dakota native began his head coaching career in Rapid City, S.D., as head coach of the men's basketball team at National American University, where he compiled a 139-66 record over six seasons. After his team advanced to the national tournament four times and won back-to-back national championships in 1987 and 1988, Coach Ticknor was inducted into the Rapid City Sports Hall of Fame.
Ticknor currently resides in Chicago with his wife, Mary.
