Massimiliano Menetti has been named of the new head coach of Hapoel Eilat as the 50-year old takes over from another Italian tactician in Maurizio Buscaglia down by the Red Sea. Menetti began his coaching career back in 1997 as an assistant with Reggiana and was their head coach on two occasions, most recently between 2011-2018.

Following a successful stint with Reggiana where Menetti won the FIBA Eurochallenge Title, the Italian Super Cup and two second division league titles, the bench boss headed to Treviso where he was in charge for four seasons and took the club to the final 16 teams in the Basketball Champions League.

“I’m very happy to welcome coach Menetti who is a talented and experienced and who believes in the professional direction of the club,” Eilat chairman Tal Pinkas said. “Menetti has taken his teams to success in both league play and other competitions in Europe due to his thoroughness, perseverance and investment and I believe that with his abilities be able to take us to the top of Israeli basketball while also participating in European competitions.”

A number of journalists as well as some of Menetti’s former players spoke about what he brings to the table.

Sportando’s Alessandro Maggi: Massimiliano is a big name in Italian Basketball, but over the last 3-4 seasons he has not lucky. He was in charge of Pallacanestro Reggiana for a lot of years and he reached the Italian Basketball Finals between against Sassari 8 years ago. It was the most incredible finals in Italy over the last 10 years because Reggio won at Sassari, Sassari then won at Reggio Emilia and in the 7th game Reggio Emilia lost against Sassari. This is the most important moment of his career because Reggio Emilia was a young team with young Italian players at the time inclduing Andrea Cinciarini, Achille Polonara and Amadeo Della Valle.

Due to Reggio Emilia’s low budget, Menetti left and signed in the Italian 2nd division with Treviso. He won the Italian 2nd division which is not a simple league, because there are 32 teams split up into two divisions where only 2 teams advance to the 1st division after the playoffs. This was very-very difficult but it was a big result for him. The first year in the top league with Treviso was good, but the second was difficult when they also played in the Basketball Champions League and he was let go.

He signed with Reggio Emilia and worked there over the last three seasons, but the club did not make not good decisions in the player market and he was released. The last two seasons weren’t simple for him but he’s an important name for us and a good coach.

As a coach, he is simple with a lot of pick and rolls and hard defense, he’s not as Maurizio Buscaglia, he’s a different coach. He loves a non-physical point guard who can score a lot whereas Buscaglia plays much harder defense.

Federico Gaibotti also spoke about Menetti: His background says that he earned two promotions with two different teams from Serie A2 that advanced to the Italian first division, Serie A. He won one Eurochallenge plus an Italian SuperCup with Reggio Emilia and with the same squad, he forced Sassari and Milano to game-7 and game-5 into the final for the championship.

He’s a coach that needs a long term project to prove his value: during the first year, he aims to create a common identity within the squad inside that is a mix composed of talented players and hard workers. His coaching style tries to get the most out the strengths of every single players to make sure they will apply that on the court, creating well-split offense.

His defense is tough but many times the defense will make too many risks to the point that the opponent’s offense gains trust. I think his basketball mind will be appreciated in Israel due the high scoring pace that fits really well with the basketball vision of the Italian coach.

Basket Inside 360 writer Matteo Andreani: I’m very curious to see him outside Italy. Menetti coached practically his entire career at in Reggio Emilia and Treviso and he has achieved results, shown a good game, has been solid which has also brought good results. This will be his chance to explode definitively for his career, but he may also pay, perhaps excessively, for an environment different from the Italian one.

Former players who played under Menetti at Reggio Emilia:
Luis Flores: Max Menetti? That’s my guy! I learned a lot from him, I got the opportunity to play for him in my second year after leaving the NBA. In the beginning it wasn’t easy because I was a selfish player at the time, coming out of the NBA you only look to score and you only look for your points and stuff.

When I got there the team was 1-9. We lost the first two games very close and I had a confrontation or two with him because I didn’t understand the concept of playing as a team, sacrificing and making sure that you put the team first. He did a great job having me go through the hardship to become a much-much better player. He helped me become a way better player, he educated me on what it is to be a good teammate on and off the court and what it is to sacrifice for your team, whether it’s on defense, making the extra pass or just celebrate when your teammates are doing well while also understanding every day in practice matters. I’ve always been a hard worker, but he helped me see beyond just today.

He helped me see why I was working and how everything I did today will help me in the future. He didn’t do it by words though, it wasn’t something he spoke to me about, he just showed it to me like ‘look, you put in this work, you are going to be doing this much better’. He did a good job with me and we ended up winning 13 games in a row. We were playing one game a week so that’s going 3.5 months without losing a game. When I got to the team they were basically trying to survive, to stay up in the first division and we managed not only to survive but then we got ourselves in a very comfortable situation where we almost made the playoffs. He’s a great guy and great personality. I’m sure he’ll do a great job out there at Hapoel Eilat.

Luca Infante: The club made an excellent choice both from a human being and a technical point of view! Max is first of all a super person and then a great professional! He prefers team work and I’m sure he will do very well!

Ricky Minard: Max is a great guy and a brilliant basketball mind. I worked with him the first 2 of my European professional seasons. He is a pleasure to work with and a great leader!

Delroy James: He is a great motivator… plays for the team and builds character

Michele Antonutti: Menetti is an energy coach that likes intensity and team building. .. He loves a team that shares the ball and plays together (inside his rules and style).

CJ Watson: Congrats to him! He was always very detailed in his approach to the game and he has the team organized and prepared for every match. You could see his energy and passion for the game. He fought for every call and had his players back. Happy for his success

Troy Bell: That’s very cool! He’s a players coach! He is very passionate about basketball and his players! He’s a good man as well as a good coach!

Derek Needham: Max is a great coach with great knowledge of the game. He has a good relationship with his players and really cares about them.

Niccolo De Vico: I had him during my first year in Reggio Emilia and we played Eurocup. Nice person outside the court where you can talk with him about everything. About basketball he has a lot of experience and passion. He spent a lot of the time to prepare in the best way the game, starting from the office. He likes also to build a team of people before players. He can be hard during the game or practice but giving the right pressure and confidence.

Former players who played under Menetti at Treviso:
Aaron Jones: He’s a player coach meaning he will make sure you good on and off the court. He puts you in situations to be successful and he tries to make sure all his players are happy. He’s also a very positive person.

Giordano Bortolani: He is a good coach, especially that he has great relationships with players also with young players. He likes to talk with players. With me he gave me some advice also outside of the court.

Tomas Dimsa: Great guy, one of the best people I worked with, has a great relationship with every player

Manuel Saladini: He’s a great coach and has the best abilities that he can put all of the potential that a player has. If you are a good player in his system, he’s going to be one of the best players in the league. He’s strong, he’s a good person and an elegant man, he knows how to have a relationship with the team and how to scream to the team. He knows how to live with the stars, he’s a big coach. He knows how to win, because in the critical moments he’s really a good coach and I’m sure that he will be a good coach for your team.

Giovanni Vildera: He is great coach! I mean he has a great relationship with all the players.. he tries everyday to push you in a friendly way to play better and improve your game in all games/practices. He has the target to build in every team a good chemistry and he looks also at the human being point of view of the player and he treats you as a man not only as a player.. I think it’s a great pick for Hapoel Eilat!!

Matteo Chillo: We had great years together in Treviso bringing the team from A2 (second Italian league) to play the top 16 of Champions League also winning the Italian A2 Cup. He’s great person first, really able to build the winning mentality if everybody on the team are on the same page. He likes to play dynamic basketball, up tempo trying to turn on the team and the crowd. I wish him all the best cause we had a good relationship.

Christian Mekowulu: Coach Menetti is great and my time with him is still a highlight in my short career. He understands the game tremendously and his priority was always to make sure we over achieved individually and as a team. I learned a lot from him and he definitely helped me become a better player. My biggest part was the kind of relationship he had with his players individually, it’s a rare trait to see that with head coaches. Until today we are still in contact and that explains what kind of person/coach he is.