The Dakota Wizards have announced an old friend will return to the bench, one of Dave Joerger’s mentors, Duane Ticknor will be the new head coach of the Wizards. Ticknor will hit the ground running according to Wizards general manager Tom Wagner. He will be in Arlington, Texas familiarizing himself with the D-League and getting to know colleagues at a pre-draft camp. Bismarck will have one of two chances to welcome him back. The first opportunity will come when the Wizards will address the media at 12:15 p.m. CT at Carpet World (501 Airport Road) in Bismarck. The second chance will be at Famous Daves (401 E Bismarck Expy.) Wednesday night, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.. Interestingly enough, he replaced Dave Joerger, who he bounced the reigns over to after he left the Wizards. He is a four-time winner of the prestigious IBA Coach of the Year award (1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000). Ticknor was with Dakota from 1999-2000. In 2002, he took over as the big fish for the CBA’s Gary Steelheads and guided them for three seasons. Most recently he was an athletic director and head coach at Marquette Catholic High School in Michigan City, Indiana, while also being president for the Northland Conference.
