Ettore Messina

Last updated

Ettore Messina
2021-12-03 ALBA Berlin gegen Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano (EuroLeague 2021-22) by Sandro Halank-122.jpg
Ettore Messina (2021)
Olimpia Milano
PositionHead coach
League LBA
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1959-09-30) 30 September 1959 (age 64)
Catania, Italy
Coaching career1976–present
Career history
As coach:
1976–1980 Reyer Venezia (youth)
1980–1982 Basket Mestre (youth)
1982–1983 A.P.U. Udine (assistant)
1983–1989 Virtus Bologna (assistant)
1989–1993Virtus Bologna
1992–1997 Italy
1997–2002Virtus Bologna
2002–2005 Benetton Treviso
2005–2009 CSKA Moscow
2009–2011 Real Madrid
2011–2012 Los Angeles Lakers (consultant)
2012–2014CSKA Moscow
20142019 San Antonio Spurs (assistant)
2015–2017Italy
2019–present Olimpia Milano
Career highlights and awards
As head coach:

As assistant coach:

FIBA Hall of Fame as coach
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
EuroBasket
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1997 Spain
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1993 France

Ettore Messina (born 30 September 1959) is an Italian professional basketball coach who is the head coach of Olimpia Milano of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He has won four EuroLeague championships as a head coach. Messina is regarded as one of the best European basketball coaches of all time, having been named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors in 2008.

Contents

He was named the Italian League's Best Coach three times, in the years 1998, 2001, and 2005. Furthermore, he has been named EuroLeague's Coach of the Year twice, in 2006 and 2008. He was inducted into the Italian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, and into the Russian VTB United League Hall of Fame, in 2019. Messina also previously worked with the San Antonio Spurs, as an assistant coach for Gregg Popovich, from 2014 to 2019.

Club coaching career

Virtus Bologna

Messina had two different stints (1989–1993 and 1997–2002) as the head coach at the Italian League team, Virtus Bologna. In the 1989–90 season, he won the Italian Cup and also the second-tier level European-wide league, the FIBA Cup Winners' Cup, against Real Madrid, in Florence. He also won the Italian League national championship in 1993. During his second stint at Virtus, he coached the team to win the first-tier level European-wide EuroLeague championship, in both 1997–98 and 2000–01. He also added two Italian League championships to his trophy case in 1998 and 2001, as well as three Italian Cup titles in 1999, 2001, and 2002.

Benetton Treviso

Messina then served as the head coach of the Italian League club Benetton Treviso, where he succeeded Mike D'Antoni as head coach, in 2002. He stayed there for 3 seasons. With Treviso, he won the Italian League championship in 2003, and also the Italian Cup title thrice, adding them to a total streak of 5 consecutive titles, with two different clubs.

CSKA Moscow

Messina then joined the Russian club CSKA Moscow in 2005, and led the team to the EuroLeague's 2005–06 title, and the coveted Triple Crown, in his first season there. On 4 May 2008, CSKA won the EuroLeague championship again under Messina - the club gained its sixth EuroLeague title by downing Maccabi Tel Aviv at the 2007–08 Madrid edition of the EuroLeague Final Four. He resigned from CSKA immediately after leading them to a Russian Championship and the EuroLeague Final, during the 2008–09 season. He was offered a position as the technical director at CSKA, but at the time of his resignation, he had not decided whether or not he wanted to stay with the club. [1]

Real Madrid

Messina was announced as the new head coach of the Spanish League club Real Madrid, on 18 June 2009, [2] and signed his contract with the club the following day. After Real Madrid had several poor performances, Messina resigned from the club's head coach position, in March 2011. [3]

Los Angeles Lakers

Messina was frequently the subject of speculation linking him with vacant coaching jobs in the NBA. For example, he was one of the many coaches in the discussion for the Sacramento Kings head coaching role, and it was also rumored that he would join the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs coaching staffs. Messina eventually agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers, as part of head coach Mike Brown's coaching staff, as a full-time consultant to the head coach, for the 2011–12 season. [4]

Return to CSKA Moscow

In June 2012, Messina decided to leave his job as a consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers, and he returned to CSKA Moscow, to become the team's head coach. [5] In June 2014, he parted ways with CSKA Moscow. [6]

San Antonio Spurs

On 15 July 2014, Messina was hired by the San Antonio Spurs, as an assistant coach. [7] On 16 October 2014, Messina would coach the Spurs in a 121–90 preseason win against the Phoenix Suns, due to Gregg Popovich being unable to travel with the team at the time. [8]

Messina would later take on the role of the World Team's head coach in the 2016 NBA Rising Stars Challenge. On 7–8 March 2016, Messina again served as head coach of the Spurs, for two games, due to Gregg Popovich leaving the team for a family emergency. [9] On 19 April 2018, Messina temporarily took over head coaching duties of the team in their playoff series versus the Golden State Warriors, due to Popovich having left the team in light of his wife's death the previous night. [10]

Olimpia Milano

On 11 June 2019, Messina signed a three-year contract, and agreed to become the new head coach and President of Basketball Operations of the Italian club Olimpia Milano. [11] [12]

National team coaching career

From 1993 to 1997 Messina was the head coach of the senior men's Italian national basketball team. He coached Italy at the 1993 EuroBasket and the 1995 EuroBasket, and he also led Italy to the silver medal at the 1997 EuroBasket.

In 2016, Messina took a short leave of absence from the San Antonio Spurs, in order to return as the head coach of the Azzurri, with the goal of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Game. Messina coached Italy at the 2016 Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. At the qualification tournament, Italy lost to Croatia, and thus failed to qualify to the 2016 Summer Olympics. He also coached Italy at the 2017 EuroBasket.

Coaching record

Legend
GGames coachedWGames wonLGames lostW–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.

TeamYearGWLWL%Result
Virtus Bologna 1991–92 19136.684Lost in Quarterfinal Playoffs
1992–93 1688.500Lost in Quarterfinal Playoffs
1997–98 22193.864Won EuroLeague Championship
1998–99 23158.652Lost in EuroLeague Finals
2000–01 23203.870Won EuroLeague Championship
2001–02 22175.773Lost in EuroLeague Finals
Treviso 2002–03 22184.818Lost in EuroLeague Finals
2003–04 20146.700Eliminated at Top 16 Stage
2004–05 221210.545Lost in Quarterfinal Playoffs
CSKA Moscow
2005–06 24195.792Won EuroLeague Championship
2006–07 25223.880Lost in EuroLeague Finals
2007–08 25205.800Won Euroleague Championship
2008–09 21165.762Lost in EuroLeague Finals
Real Madrid 2009–10 20128.600Lost in Quarterfinal Playoffs
2010–11 16115.688(resigned)
CSKA Moscow 2012–13 26215.808Lost in EuroLeague Semifinals
2013–14 31229.710Lost in EuroLeague Semifinals
AX Armani Exchange Milan 2019-20 281216.429Season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic
2020-21 412516.610Lost in EuroLeague Semifinals
2021-22
Career37727998.740

Domestic Leagues

TeamYearGWLWL%Result
PBC CSKA Moscow 2007–08 32311.9688Won 2008 Russian Super League 1 Finals
PBC CSKA Moscow 2008–0932302.9375Won 2009 Russian Super League 1 Finals
Real Madrid 2009–10 423111.7381Lost 2010 Liga ACB Second Round
Real Madrid 2010–11 402911.7250Lost 2011 Liga ACB Second Round
PBC CSKA Moscow 2012–13 31247.7742Won 2013 VTB United League Finals
PBC CSKA Moscow 2013–14 29245.8276Won 2014 VTB United League Finals
AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan 2019–20 21147.7500League cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan 2020–21 382810.7368Lost 2021 Italian League Finals
Career26521352.8038

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtus Bologna</span> Italian professional basketball club

Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna, known for sponsorship reasons as Virtus Segafredo Bologna, is an Italian professional basketball club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nenad Krstić</span> Serbian basketball player (born 1983)

Nenad Krstić is a Serbian basketball executive and former professional player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergio Rodríguez</span> Spanish basketball player

Sergio Rodríguez Gómez is a Spanish professional basketball player for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Standing at 1.91 m, he plays at the point guard position. Rodriguez, nicknamed "El Chacho", won the EuroLeague title in 2015, and was an All-EuroLeague First Team selection, as well as the EuroLeague MVP the year before.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Željko Obradović</span> Serbian basketball player and coach

Željko Obradović is a Serbian professional basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach for Partizan of the Basketball League of Serbia (KLS), the ABA League and the EuroLeague.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Blatt</span> Israeli-American basketball player and coach (born 1959)

David Michael Blatt, is an Israeli-American professional basketball executive. He is also a former coach and player.

The 2006 NBA Europe Live Tour was an international basketball exhibition and competition produced jointly by the National Basketball Association and the Euroleague, as part of the NBA Global Games. The tour featured four NBA teams training and playing matches against European teams in Germany, Russia, France, Italy, and Spain. Four standalone games were played, along with two tournaments in Moscow and Cologne. The tour took place between 5 October and 11 October 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ioannis Bourousis</span> Greek basketball player

Ioannis Bourousis, commonly known as Giannis Bourousis is a Greek former professional basketball player and basketball executive. He is the general manager of the Greek basketball club ASK Karditsa. During his playing career, at a height of 7 ft 34 in tall and a weight of 270 lb. (122 kg), Bourousis played at the center position. Bourousis, who was a two-time All-EuroLeague First Team selection, was compared to FIBA Hall of Fame / Basketball Hall of Fame center Vlade Divac, by San Antonio Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miloš Teodosić</span> Serbian basketball player

Miloš Teodosić is a Serbian professional basketball player for Crvena zvezda of the Serbian KLS, the Adriatic League and the EuroLeague. He also represents the National Basketball Team of Serbia internationally. He primarily plays the point guard and shooting guard positions. He is a six time All-EuroLeague selection, and was voted EuroLeague MVP in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Plaza</span> Spanish professional basketball coach

Joan Plaza Durán is a Spanish professional basketball coach. He trained Real Madrid Baloncesto for three years, winning one Liga ACB championship, and an ULEB Cup title. In 2009, after a bad season, he was replaced in Real Madrid, by CSKA Moscow's successful coach Ettore Messina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evgeniy Pashutin</span> Russian basketball player (born 1969)

Evgeniy Yuryevich Pashutin is a Russian professional basketball coach and former player. He is the current head coach of Parma Basket of the VTB United League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luigi Datome</span> Italian basketball player

Luigi "Gigi" Datome is an Italian former professional basketball player. Standing at 2.03 m, he played at the small forward and power forward positions. Datome was an All-EuroLeague Second Team selection in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dairis Bertāns</span> Latvian basketball player (born 1989)

Dairis Bertāns is a Latvian professional basketball player for VEF Rīga of the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League. Bertāns also plays for the Latvia national basketball team. He is the older brother of Dāvis Bertāns. He is a 6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m), 200-pound (91 kg) shooting guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergio Scariolo</span> Italian basketball coach

Sergio Scariolo is an Italian professional basketball coach who is the head coach of the senior Spain national team. Scariolo latest coached also Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). Having won four EuroBasket championships and a World Cup at the head of Spain, Scariolo is one of the most successful coaches in the history of international competitions, and according to many players, journalists and commentators, he is regarded as the greatest national team coach of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nando de Colo</span> French basketball player

Nando Bruno Alfred Andre de Colo is a French professional basketball player for LDLC ASVEL of the French LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague. Standing at a height of 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), he plays at the point guard and shooting guard positions. A six-time All-EuroLeague selection, de Colo won the EuroLeague title in 2016 and 2019 with CSKA Moscow, earning both the EuroLeague MVP and Final Four MVP awards in the process.

Aaron Lee Jackson is an American former professional basketball player. Standing at 191 cm, He plays at both the point guard and shooting guard positions, with point guard being his main position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornike Shengelia</span> Georgian basketball player

Tornike "Toko" Shengelia, also known as "Shelengija", is a Georgian professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. Shengelia also represents the senior Georgian national team. He earned an All-EuroLeague First Team selection in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Hackett</span> Italian-American basketball player

Daniel Lorenzo Hackett is an American-Italian professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague. Standing at 1.96 m, he can play at both the point guard and shooting guard positions.

Dmitry Shakulin is a Russian basketball coach and former player. He most recently was an assistant coach for the CSKA Moscow of the VTB United League.

The 2019–20 season sees Olimpia Milano competing in both EuroLeague and Lega Basket Serie A. The first is the highest level of European basketball competitions, for which Milano has a license. While in the Italian Serie A, Milano needs a confirmation after having lost the previous year championship in the semifinal against Dinamo Sassari, despite being the favourite team.

The 2019–20 season sees Olimpia Milano competing in both EuroLeague and Lega Basket Serie A. The first is the highest level of European basketball competitions, for which Milano has a license.

References

  1. "Messina era ends, Pashutin hired at CSKA!". Euroleague.net. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  2. "Real Madrid: Messina takes over as head coach". Euroleague.net. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  3. "Ettore Messina officially leaves Real Madrid". Sportando.com. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  4. "Hoopsworld.com Lakers: Messina to Consult Brown". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link).
  5. McMenamin, Dave. "Ettore Messina joins CSKA Moscow". ESPN . ESPNLosAngeles.com. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  6. "CSKA Moscow, Messina part ways". Euroleague.net. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  7. "Spurs Announce Ettore Messina Assistant Coach". NBA.com. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  8. "Ettore Messina will serve as acting coach for the Spurs in Phoenix". Sportando.com. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  9. POPOVICH TO MISS SPURS’ NEXT TWO GAMES.
  10. Ley, Tom (19 April 2018). "Gregg Popovich Won't Coach Spurs In Game 3 Following Death Of His Wife". Deadspin. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  11. "Ettore Messina is Olimpia Milan's New Head Coach". olimpiamilano.com. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  12. "Legend Messina takes reins in Milan". Euroleague.net. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.