Montepaschi promotes Banchi to head coach spot

Luca Banchi - Montepaschi Siena

Montepaschi Siena announced on Friday that its new coach will be none other than Luca Banchi, who has already spent a long time on the bench of the Italian powerhouse. Banchi, age 46, had been the assistant of Simone Pianigiani, who resigned the head coaching position earlier this week, for the last six seasons. Together, they helped place Montepaschi in both the 2008 and 2011 Final Fours. Banchi helped the club reach new heights in Italian basketball by winning six consecutive Italian League crowns, a first in the 63-year history of the competition. The team also won 4 Italian Cup titles and lifted 5 Italian Supercup trophies with Banchi as assistant coach. In his six seasons helping Pianigiani, Montepaschi accumulated a 225-28 Italian League record, winning 90.1% of their games and doing even better (59-6, 90.8%) in the playoffs. Banchi has previous head coach experience in teams like Sicc BPA Jesi, Banca Nuova Trapani, Mabo Livorno and Trieste. He has also coached the Italian U20 and “B” national teams.

“It is with great pride that I begin this new adventure with Siena,” Banchi said at a press conference Friday. “I know and am happy to continue the path we’ve been on. The modus operandi of Siena’s technical staff is in perfect working condition. Building a staff will be a great consideration. I’ve always felt a responsibility during the six years I have put in here to do what I do best: coaching! Coach Pianigiani shared everything with us, so it’s a change in my role, but the commitment and responsibilities are the same.”

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