Luca Banchi has returned to Olimpia Milano as head coach on a multi-year contract, replacing Giuseppe Poeta after the club’s difficult start to the EuroLeague season.
Milan announced the appointment on Sunday, November 8, confirming that Banchi will continue as head coach of the Italian national team. He returns to the club 11 years after his first spell, when he led Olimpia to the first Italian championship of the Armani era.
“I’m honored to be able to return to coach Olimpia Milano,” Banchi said in the club’s announcement. He thanked the ownership for the opportunity and Italian Basketball Federation president Gianni Petrucci for allowing him to retain his national team position.
Banchi also paid tribute to his predecessor, saying he had written “indelible pages in the history of a club of this stature” in a short period. He added that he was approaching the new challenge with enthusiasm and determination.
The coaching change follows Milan’s 1-9 start to the 2026-27 EuroLeague campaign. The Italian side sits 19th in the 20-team standings, level with last-placed Baskonia but ahead on point differential.
Poeta was dismissed on Friday, November 6, after Milan’s opening 10 games produced only one victory. Assistant coach Marco Ramondino initially took charge, before the club appointed Banchi two days later.
The new head coach inherits a team that has struggled to turn individual production into results. Moses Wright leads Milan with 12.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while R.J. Cole averages 9.3 points and 3.1 assists.
Devon Hall contributes 9.2 points and a team-high four assists per game. However, Milan have scored 811 points and conceded 896 through 10 EuroLeague games, leaving them with a minus-85 differential.
Banchi previously coached Olimpia from 2013 to 2015. His first season brought the Italian league title, while his overall record with the club stood at 93 wins in 140 official games.
The 61-year-old also won the Italian championship and Italian Cup with Siena in 2012, then returned to the top level with Virtus Bologna and Anadolu Efes. In 2025, he guided Efes to the EuroLeague playoffs, finishing one game short of the Final Four.
His international experience includes leading Latvia from 2021 to 2025. Latvia finished fifth at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where Banchi received the tournament’s Best Coach award. He has led Italy’s national team since October 2025.
Banchi’s first challenge will be to improve Milan’s position in the EuroLeague standings. Olimpia host Zalgiris Kaunas on Thursday, November 12, with the Lithuanian side entering the round in 10th place at 6-4.
