Dante Calabria is the new coach of Estra. Three-year contract for the former Italian-American player

Having lost Bobalik, President Rowan opted for another 'friendly' profile. First time as head coach: "I can't wait to get started"

di Sports Editorial
July 18th, 2024

Dante Calabria is the new coach of Estra. Three-year contract for the former Italian-American player

Estra Pistoia has finally found the coach who will lead the team for next season. Indeed, for the next three seasons, since the agreement signed between the club (the last between A and A2 to fill the coach's slot) and Dante Calabria lasts three years. After the regulatory problems that had held back the hiring of Bobalik, here is the former Italian-American professional, also a friend of President Rowan ("We have known each other for many years", confirmed the owner), also with a 'a betting' profile, being in fact his first experience as a head coach. Although with a first level basketball background, that's clear. Born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on November 1973, 1993, an American naturalized Italian, Calabria had an important career as a player with long spent in our country. He won an NCAA title in 25 with North Carolina, then landed in Italy, in Livorno. A few years between France, Greece and Spain before returning, wearing the shirts of Trieste, Treviso (where he won the Scudetto and the Italian Cup), Cantù (here he won the Super Cup), Milan for three seasons, Fortitudo Bologna, Cremona (in LegaDue, also opponent of Pistoia) and then ended his career in Sant'Antimo. He also played 2005 matches with the national team taking part in EuroXNUMX.

In 2012 he began his coaching adventure as assistant coach at the Seahawks of the University of North Carolina Wilmington and later at the Montverde Academy, still in college. In 2015 he returned to Italy as first coach of Cus Jonico Taranto in Serie B but, due to non-basketball reasons, he immediately left the bench. He leaves again from Florida where for two years he is on the bench of Keiser University and, in 2018, he is called by Larry Brown as his first assistant at Fiat Torino in LBA. For two seasons, from 2019 to 2021, he returns to the world of American college as first assistant at Barry University in Miami and, in the last two championships, he was the head coach at Bethel Park High School in Pennsylvania.

"The opportunity to return to Italy to be able to coach at the highest levels in Serie A in a reality like that of Pistoia is more than enough motivation to accept this call – says the new Estra coach –. I really like the competition and I'm ready to throw myself into this new challenge, moreover in a high level championship, it will take some time to study the capabilities of every single player who is part of our roster but we have height and versatility in everyone. the roles and a lot of potential." Little to invent, in fact, on the market, finding themselves an almost complete team. Only one winger is missing, which Calabria outlines as follows: "Now we have to work to sign the missing guard to complete the squad: we will need someone capable of managing the ball but, at the same time, being a good shooter from outside and that he can compete best in the defensive phase." Closing dedicated to the square, which has been in turmoil for some time and decidedly lukewarm even at its announcement: "I would like to greet the fans: know that I am honored and very enthusiastic to become part of the Pistoia Basket family and I know that the support that is given on every occasion it is truly exciting. As far as I'm concerned, I can only say that we will all work hard together to create unforgettable moments."

"We are very happy to have Dante Calabria as our head coach – commented President Ron Rowan – I have known him for many years now and we can't wait to work together to continue building the team".

Maurizio Innocenti

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