Profile
Professional basketball coach. Mental coach and mental trainer.
Professional experience – Men’s Serie A
- Head coach, Nutribullet Treviso (2023–2025)
- Head coach, HappyCasa Brindisi (2017–2023) – third and fifth place, two Coppa Italia Finals
- Head coach, Fiat Torino (2015–2017)
- Head coach, Sidigas Avellino (2013–2015)
- Head coach, Varese (2012–2013) – first place in the regular season; Coppa Italia Final
- Head coach, Sidigas Avellino (2010–2012)
- Head coach, Benetton Treviso (2009–2010)
- Assistant coach, Benetton Treviso (with E. Messina, D. Blatt, O. Mahmuti) – one league title, three Coppa Italia titles
- SuperCoppa winner in 2005 as head coach
- Head coach in A2: Scafati Basket
- Head coach, A. Costa Imola – promotion to Serie A1
- Head coach, S.S.C. Reyer Venezia – promotion to Serie A1
- Assistant coach to T. Zorzi, P. Skansi, M. Calamai, A. Russo, M. De Sisti
- Assistant coach in the NBA Summer League with Orlando, Toronto, Portland, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers
Education and training
- Degree in Political Science – University of Padua (1989)
- Degree in Mental Coaching Sciences and Techniques – Università Popolare degli Studi di Milano (2024)
Skills
- Certified Sport and Business Mental Coach (Mental Training Inc., 2019)
- Certified Mindfulness Educator (2024)
Awards and honours
- CONI Silver Palm for Merit
- FIP Coach of Merit
- Reverberi Basketball Award (2012)
- Men’s Serie A Basketball Coach of the Year (2013 and 2021)
- Men’s Serie A2 Basketball Coach of the Year (1997)
- Ambassador of the University of Salento (since 2021)
- Honoured with the Key to the City of Brindisi (2021)
- Member of the Board of Directors of LIBA (Legend International Basketball Association, since 2024)
Activities and interests
- Speaker for FIP, FIBA and the EuroLeague at numerous international clinics (China, Portugal, Hungary, Romania and Italy)
- Plays blues guitar
- Keen reader and lover of classical music, jazz and blues
- Enjoys golf, swimming, skiing and cycling
Family
Married to Monica Fontanive, he has three children: Giovanni, Chiara and Marco.