Simpson (right, beside Niang) was an assistant coach for Pacers summer league.
From the video room to the bench, Jhared Simpson has moved to Fort Wayne to join Steve Gansey’s staff with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, league sources told VigilantSports.com.
This will be his third different role for the Pacers, who own the D-League franchise.
In my conversations with Simpson, going back to 2008, he has always discussed his desire to coach. That’s the next step. And here, with the Mad Ants, he is getting that opportunity.
Pacers head coach Nate McMillan confirmed the news Monday, noting how this is what Simpson wanted.
“That’s part of our development program,” McMillan said. “Those guys are guys that in the future, we look at to possibly bring up and being on the bench here. It’s just like the players. You’re down there working. They’re running the same things we’re running, teaching the same thing that we’re trying to teach, and in the next year or so, if one of our coaches leaves, that’ll be the first place we look to bring our guys up.”
See Also: McMillan replaces Jhared with Jared
For the past four seasons (2012-16), Simpson had worked in the video room as an assistant video coordinator under Hansen Wong, who was promoted to Director Basketball Information and Technology over the summer. That leaves Ben Eblen and newcomer Jared Bartling to assist head video coordinator Tim Dather, also a new hire, in the video room.
Simpson works with rising star Myles Turner in the offseason.
Simpson first joined the organization as a video intern from 2008-10. He then chose to return to his alma mater, Division II Wheeling Jesuit University, for two years as a graduate assistant to obtain his Master’s degree.
[Coach Steve Gansey appreciates the togetherness between the Pacers and Mad Ants]
Entering the league through the video department is one of the most common ways to become a coach. That was the route chosen by ex-Pacers coach Frank Vogel and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
Beyond his work in the video room, Simpson spends much of his time on the practice court working with players. He has also been an assistant coach for the Pacers’ summer league team in July the last few summers.
[Summer League serves as a learning tool for all — Popeye Jones to coach Pacers]
Gansey and his all-new staff have been present and active at Pacers training camp. An official announcement from the Mad Ants is expected Thursday morning.
The Mad Ants open the season on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Greensboro. Their home opener is set for Sunday, Nov. 20.