FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Former Central Oklahoma men's basketball coach Tom Hankins has been named head coach of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers.

Hankins coached the Bronchos from 2015-19, finishing with a 64-53 record in four seasons at the helm. He left UCO to join the Paces as assistant player development coach and spent the 2019-20 NBA season in that role.

"This is a great opportunity and a privilege to be the Mad Ants' head coach," said Hankins, who becomes the seventh head coach in Mad Ants history. "I look forward to helping develop players, but also having a team that represents the goals of the Pacers and Mad Ants on and off the floor."

The 54-year-old Hankins started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri in 1991 and then was an assistant coach at Tulsa East Central High School for five years before going to Oral Roberts. He spent 15 years as an assistant at ORU before serving as associate head coat at Southern Illinois from 2012-2015. Teams he was associated with had six 20-win seasons, three NCAA tournament appearances and two NIT appearances.

"Tom brings a wealth of experience from many years in the college ranks," said Mad Ants General Manager Brian Levy. "His proven track record of developing players was only further amplified by his recent role in working with Brian Bowen and Naz Mitrou-Long. Having spent time with Tom this last season, I am confident that he will continue to cultivate talent and provide great value for the organization, both in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis."

The NBA G League season will begin in February, with all games to be played at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.