Simone Pianigiani
PositionHead coach
TeamFree agent
Birth date31 May 1969 (age 57)
Birth placeSiena, Italy
NationalityItalian
Cyears 11995–2006
Cteam 1Montepaschi Siena (assistant)
Cyears 21995–2006
Cteam 2Montepaschi Siena (youth teams)
Cyears 32006–2012
Cteam 3Montepaschi Siena
Cyears 42009–2015
Cteam 4Italy
Cyears 52012–2013
Cteam 5Fenerbahçe Ülker
Cyears 62016–2017
Cteam 6Hapoel Jerusalem
Cyears 72017–2019
Cteam 7Olimpia Milano
Cyears 82020
Cteam 8Beijing Ducks
Highlights
Cyears 92023–2024
Cteam 9Cedevita Olimpija

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

Coaching career

Pro clubs

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

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

EuroLeague

|- | align="left"|Montepaschi | align="left"|2007–08 | 24 || 17 || 7 || || align="center"|Won in 3rd place game |- | align="left"|Montepaschi | align="left"|2008–09 | 20 || 13 || 7 || || align="center"|Eliminated in quarterfinals |- | align="left"|Montepaschi | align="left"|2009–10 | 16 || 11 || 5 || || align="center"|Eliminated in Top 16 stage |- | align="left"|Montepaschi | align="left"|2010–11 | 22 || 16 || 6 || || align="center"|Won in 3rd place game |- | align="left"|Montepaschi | align="left"|2011–12 | 20 || 13 || 7 || || align="center"|Eliminated in quarterfinals |- | align="left"|Fenerbahçe | align="left"|2012–13 | 18 || 7 || 11 || || align="center"|Eliminated in Top 16 stage |- | align="left"|Milano | align="left"|2017–18 | 30 || 10 || 20 || || align="center"|Eliminated in regular season |- | align="left"|Milano | align="left"|2018–19 | 30 || 14 || 16 || || align="center"|Eliminated in regular season |-class="sortbottom" | align="center" colspan=2|Career||180||101||79||||

Honors and titles

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

  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" (in sl-SI). KK Cedevita Olimpija, Ljubljana. 2024-01-01. Retrieved 2024-06-04.