Mad Ants announce Joey Meyer as Head Coach

So it is finally official, Joey Meyer has been announced as the new Head Coach of the Mad Ants for the 2009-10 season.

I have included the official press release below. Here is one key point that Coach Meyer touched on in the press conference that I enjoyed hearing:

-Coach Meyer wants to have a "great relationship" with our affiliates (Bucks, Pistons, Pacers), not a good relationship but a GREAT relationship. He wants the teams to be very comfortable in assigning their players to the Mad Ants. He stated he has already been in contact with all three teams and received a great response.

This is something that I have heard from several of our fans, the desire to see more NBA players on our roster (especially the Pacers). So far three Pistons have been assigned to the Mad Ants.

-

June 3, 2009

Mad Ants Name Joey Meyer Head Coach

FORT WAYNE, IN (June 3, 2009) – The Fort Wayne Mad Ants’ announced today that Joey Meyer, the NBA D-League all-time wins leader, has been named the head coach of the Mad Ants. This year will be his 8th season as a head coach in the NBA D-League. Meyer has signed a two year contract with the team, keeping him in Fort Wayne through the 2010-2011 season.

“We are extremely pleased to bring someone of Joey’s caliber to our head coaching position,” said Mad Ants President Jeff Potter. “Joey brings a wealth of experience to our organization and is a great first step to bringing a NBA D-League championship to Fort Wayne.”

“I am very excited for this opportunity. From talking with people around the league, they have nothing but positive things to say about this organization,” Coach Meyer said. “I am also excited to be so close to home and to have my family be a part of my coaching career again.”

Meyer, a Chicago native, has a long history of winning in college and at the professional level. The son of college basketball Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer, Joey coached under his father at DePaul University for 11 years and took over the reins in 1984. He remained head coach of the Blue Demons for 13 seasons, finishing with a 231-158 record, including six 20-win seasons, seven NCAA tournament appearances, and three NIT bids.

Meyer’s first professional coaching position came with the Chicago Skyliners of the ABA where he led the team to a 29-11 record. He entered the D-League in 2001 as head coach of the Asheville Altitude. With the Altitude, Meyer won back to back D-League Championships in 2004 and 2005. He then moved on to coach the Tulsa 66ers from 2005-2008 where he is most recognized for his development of Ramon Sessions, who averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 assists per game for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2008-09 season.

Meyer currently resides in Chicago with his wife Barbara, and he has one son, Brian, who is an NBA scout for the Chicago Bulls.

Season tickets for the 2009-2010 season are on sale now and start at just $99! For ticket information call 260-469-4667.