Simone Pianigiani (born 31 May 1969) is an Italian professional basketball coach.

Simone Pianigiani
Free agent
PositionHead coach
Personal information
Born (1969-05-31) 31 May 1969 (age 55)
Siena, Italy
NationalityItalian
Coaching career1995–present
Career history
As coach:
1995–2006Montepaschi Siena (assistant)
1995–2006Montepaschi Siena (youth teams)
2006–2012Montepaschi Siena
2009–2015Italy
2012–2013Fenerbahçe Ülker
2016–2017Hapoel Jerusalem
2017–2019Olimpia Milano
2020Beijing Ducks
2023–2024Cedevita Olimpija
Career highlights and awards

Coaching career

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Pro clubs

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Pianigiani was appointed the head coach of the Italian League club Montepaschi Siena before the 2006–07 season, and led his team to the Italian League championship in all six of his seasons on the bench. He was named the Italian League's Best Coach in 2007.

The 2008–09 Italian League season was especially notable, as Montepaschi won the Italian SuperCup before the season, the Italian Cup at mid-season, and won the Italian League championship, by sweeping all three of their playoff series. In 44 Italian domestic games that season, they lost only once – at Fortitudo Bologna, in an Italian League game. As head coach in Siena, he reached the Euroleague Final Four twice (2008 and 2011).

In the summer of 2012, he signed a two-year contract with Fenerbahçe Ülker.[1] He resigned from his position as manager of Fenerbahçe Ülker in February 2013, citing personal issues. At the time of his resignation, the team was in the top spot of the Turkish Basketball League; however, they were only in 7th place out of 8 teams in the top 16 stage of the EuroLeague.

In June 2016, he signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Jerusalem.[2] He led Hapoel to win the Israeli national championship and to reach the Eurocup semifinal.

After one season, he parted ways with Hapoel,[3] and signed a three-year contract with Olimpia Milano.[4]

On 13 September 2020 Beijing Ducks announced Pianigiani as their new head coach, replacing Yannis Christopoulos.[5] but already at the end of the year moved he from head coach position to consultant role.

On June 13 2023 Cedevita Olimpija announced that Pianigiani signed a three-year contract with the Ljubljana side. Due to Pianigiani's health problems, the club and the head coach agreed to end their cooperation on January 1 2024 after a disappointing Eurocup season. [6]

Italian national team

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Pianigiani became the head coach of the senior men's Italian national basketball team in 2009, which he coached until 2015. He coached Italy at the EuroBasket 2011, the EuroBasket 2013, and the EuroBasket 2015.

Coaching record

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Legend
G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win-loss %

Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the team played during the season. He also coached in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.

EuroLeague

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Team Year G W L W–L% Result
Montepaschi 2007–08 24 17 7 .708 Won in 3rd place game
Montepaschi 2008–09 20 13 7 .650 Eliminated in quarterfinals
Montepaschi 2009–10 16 11 5 .688 Eliminated in Top 16 stage
Montepaschi 2010–11 22 16 6 .727 Won in 3rd place game
Montepaschi 2011–12 20 13 7 .650 Eliminated in quarterfinals
Fenerbahçe 2012–13 18 7 11 .389 Eliminated in Top 16 stage
Milano 2017–18 30 10 20 .333 Eliminated in regular season
Milano 2018–19 30 14 16 .467 Eliminated in regular season
Career 180 101 79 .561

Honors and titles

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Head coach

Mens Sana Siena: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Olimpia Milano: 2018
Mens Sana Siena: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Olimpia Milano: 2017, 2018
Mens Sana Siena: 2009, 2010, 2011
Mens Sana Siena: 2008, 2011
Fenerbahçe Ülker: 2013
Hapoel Jerusalem: 2017
Hapoel Jerusalem: 2016

Assistant coach

Mens Sana Siena: 2002
Mens Sana Siena: 2004
Mens Sana Siena: 2004–05
Mens Sana Siena: 2003, 2004

Youth coach

  • Italian Youth Tournaments:

Cadets: 2

Mens Sana Siena: 2002, 2003

Juniors: 2

Mens Sana Siena: 2004, 2005

Under 20:

Mens Sana Siena: 2006

References

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  1. ^ Pianigiani is new coach (in Turkish).
  2. ^ Hapoel Welcomes Simone Pianigiani.
  3. ^ Pianigiani parts ways with Hapoel Jerusalem.
  4. ^ Simone Pianigiani is the new Olimpia’s head coach
  5. ^ "微博".
  6. ^ "Z mesta glavnega trenerja se poslavlja Simone Pianigiani". KK Cedevita Olimpija, Ljubljana (in Slovenian). 1 January 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
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