"I would like to thank Fenerbahce Ulker, one of the most prestigious clubs in Europe, for its support," the announcement quotes Pianigiani. "I am proud to have been part of the family of Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul." Assistant coach Ertugrul Erdogan is expected to be on the bench Monday for FB Ulker's game in the Turkish League game against Besiktas JK Istanbul. Pianigiani was in his first season as a head coach outside his native Siena, Italy, where FB Ulker will face his former team, Montepaschi Siena, later this week in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Game of the Week. Pianigiani's final overall record with FB Ulker was 7-11 in the Euroleague, 16-2 in the Turkish League.

Hopes for Euroleague success between Pianigiani and FB Ulker were high when he arrived, based on his success in taking Montepaschi Siena to two Final Fours and winning every Italian League title in his six seasons as a head coach before this one. He and Siena also won four of six Italian Cup titles in that span. Two weeks ago, Fenerbahce Ulker won the Turkish Cup, although Pianigiani was reportedly hospitalized during the tournament with an illness. Also last summer, FB Ulker signed three former players of Pianiagiani: point guard Bo McCalebb and center David Andersen, both former All-Euroleaguers, and forward Romain Sato, a former Euroleague champion. After having finished 5-5 in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season, and qualifying fourth of four teams from its group to the Top 16, FB Ulker's record in the second round is 2-6. The team would likely need to win all of the remaining six Top 16 games to have any chance of reaching the playoffs.