By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
The Beijing Ducks announced that Simone Pianigiani will replace Yannis Christopoulos as the new head coach.
Pianigiani has had a year off this past season after coaching Olimpia Milano for two years and this will be his first stint in China.
The 51-year-old started off his coaching career in 1995 as an assistant in Montepaschi Siena where he stayed until 2012 and was the head coach for the last six years there (2006-2012).
He also had one-year stints with Fenerbahce and Hapoel Jerusalem while he was also on the helm of the Italian national team for six years (2009-2015).
He won six Italian and one Israeli championship throughout his career while also adding six Italian SuperCups, four Italian Cups as well as one Turkish and one Israeli Cup.