Fotis Takianos, the Coach of the Year in the 2021-22 Stoiximan Greek Basketball League stopped at Trace ‘n Chase recently, fresh off guiding Larisa B.C. to the fourth place in the final league ranking, the highest distinction for the club and Thessaly basketball in the history of the game in Greece!
The 53-year-old coach took over the “reins” of Larisa B.C. in mid-November, with the team at a 1-5 record, and guided the team to the sixth place in the standings at the end of the regular season (with 12 wins in 24 games) qualifying for the league’s playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the Thessalonians eliminated Kolossos Rhodes B.C. (without home advantage), winning the series 2-0, while in the semifinals of the playoffs they put the pressure on Panathinaikos B.C., losing the series 3-2 and ended up fourth in the final standings for the 2021-22 season.
During his professional playing career as a player, Fotis Takianos played with Makedonikos B.C., Aris B.C., PAOK B.C., KAO Dramas, MENT and G.S.
Siatista where he shared the court together with Trace N’ Chase’s PR Manager Antonis Moumoglou. The highlight of his playing career was with PAOK B.C. when the team won the FIBA Korać Cup in 1994 defeating Stefanel Trieste in both games. In 2004, he travelled to Memphis in order to participate to the Coaching Camp and Pre-Season Camp of the Memphis Grizzlies, touring the University of Memphis and the University of Kentucky and connecting with NBAers Mike Miller, Pau Gasol as well as with coaches Hubie Brown and Hal Wissel, earning significant experience as, after retiring from playing professionally, he became a full-time basketball coach. He started by serving as an assistant coach at Iraklis B.C., A.E.K. B.C. and PAOK BC in the Greek Basket League, before he was appointed as the head coach of Panorama B.C. in 2007 in the Greek 2nd Division, followed by stints with Rethymno Cretan Kings B.C., KAO Dramas, OFI B.C., Doxa Lefkadas, Trikala Aries B.C.. As the Head coach of Doxa Lefkadas he guided the team to a wildcard in order to play at the top-tier level Greek Basket League for the first time, while under his coaching instructions Rethymno Cretan Kings B.C. ended the 2007-2008 season as a the runner up. His international career in 1st Divisions included becoming the head coach at Bashkimi Prizren of Kosovo, Apollon Limassol B.C. of Cyprus, Qatar Sports Club Doha in Qatar and KB Rahoveci of Kosovo.
Coach Takianos shared plenty of stories about growing up idolizing Magic Johnson, playing together with Peja Stojakovic and transitioning to coaching at the highest level in recent years!
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