By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Shortly following the dismissal of Sergio Scariolo, Virtus Segafredo Bologna hired a new head coach. Luca Banchi took over the reins to return to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Banchi, 58, penned a two-year contract to become the new head coach of Virtus Bologna, the team announced Friday.
Per the press release: “Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna S.p.A. announces that it has reached an agreement until 30 June 2025 with Luca Banchi, fresh off winning the Best Coach of the World 2023 award.
Banchi was born in Grosseto on August 1, 1965 and began his coaching career in his hometown in 1983. After various experiences in Tuscany, he sat on the bench first in Trieste, then Trapani and Jesi. In 2006 he began his adventure in Siena, first as an assistant and then as Head Coach. An experience that culminated in 2013 with the Scudetto and Coppa Italia victory.
Then the move to Olimpia Milano where he won the Italian title in his first season, signing a record, since before him, no one in his first year on the Milan bench had managed to bring home the title of Italian champion; in the 2013-2014 season he reached the Quarterfinals of the EuroLeague.
In 2018 he left Italy, coaching first Bamberg and then AEK Athens, with whom he won an Intercontinental Cup. In January 2021 he became Assistant Coach of the Long Island Nets, a Brooklyn Nets franchise playing in the NBA D-League. His last stops were Pesaro and Strasbourg, where he led both clubs to the playoffs. With the French club also an excellent European journey ended in Game 3, which would have allowed access to the Final Four of the Champions League, eliminated by the future champions of Bonn.
Since 2021, coach Banchi has been coaching Latvia and leading it to its first historic qualification to a World Cup that ended a few days ago with an extraordinary fifth place, celebrated in Riga with a real state party.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna officially welcomes coach Luca Banchi into the big black and white family.”
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL