The Atlanta Hawks have hired veteran basketball coach Ettore Messina in an advisory role for their coaching staff. The arrangement allows Messina to work remotely without relocating to the United States, splitting his time between Atlanta and Italy where he will also serve as a television analyst for Sky Sport. This marks Messina's return to the NBA and a reunion with Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, whom he previously worked with at CSKA Moscow.
Messina's addition comes as the Hawks look to build on a 46-36 season that ended with a Southeast Division title but a first-round playoff exit.
Messina will serve as an advisor or technical consultant to the Hawks' coaching staff. The specific title hasn't been officially confirmed by the team, but Italian media outlets have described the position. His unique arrangement means he won't be required to live full-time in Atlanta, allowing him to maintain his commitments in Europe.
He will divide the upcoming NBA season between working with the Hawks and his new role as a basketball analyst for Sky Sport in Italy. This flexible setup use Messina's extensive international experience without uprooting him. The Hawks have not yet made a formal announcement regarding the hiring.
Messina brings a wealth of high-level experience directly to head coach Quin Snyder. The two have a prior working relationship from the 2012-13 season when Snyder was an assistant on Messina's staff at CSKA Moscow in Russia. That shared history should allow for a quick integration of ideas and philosophies.
For the Hawks, adding a respected tactical mind like Messina's is a significant move. His NBA resume includes a season as a consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers under Mike Brown and a five-year stint as an assistant to Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. During his time with the Spurs, Messina even served as acting head coach for several games, gaining valuable in-game management experience.
This will be Messina's third NBA job, but his basketball pedigree is global. Before his advisory role with the Hawks, he spent seven years with Olimpia Milano in Italy, first as head coach and president of basketball operations starting in June 2019. He led the club to three Italian league championships, two Italian Cup titles, and three Supercups.
His tenure at Milano also included a run to the 2021 EuroLeague Final Four, ending a 29-year drought for the club. Messina stepped down from his coaching duties on November 24, 2025, with the team holding a 6-6 record in the EuroLeague and 5-4 in the Italian league. He cited becoming a "source of division" in an open letter at the time. He remained in a front-office role as a technical director and advisor until parting ways with the club in late June.
The Hawks have been active reshaping their team around core player Jalen Johnson this offseason. Key moves include signing CJ McCollum to a contract extension and bringing back center Jock Landale. The front office also engineered a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire defenders Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins.
Further additions came via deals with the Sacramento Kings for Devin Carter and the Dallas Mavericks for Ryan Nembhard. The draft brought in prospects Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor, and Henri Veesaar. One NBA executive characterized Atlanta's offseason as "terrific," suggesting the team is positioning itself for improvement.
The Hawks will open their 2026-27 regular season on the road against the Orlando Magic on October 21, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Their first home game at State Farm Arena is set for October 24 against the Houston Rockets.
Messina, who turns 67 on September 30, joins a coaching staff led by Snyder, who signed a multiyear extension with the Hawks on June 8. The partnership aims to translate Messina's vast experience into on-court success as Atlanta handles a competitive Eastern Conference.
