1. Personal Background
Marco Bonitta was born on September 5, 1963, in Ravenna, Italy.
2. Coaching Career
Marco Bonitta has had an extensive coaching career, leading numerous club teams to domestic and international success, and guiding several national teams in major competitions.
2.1. Club Coaching Career
Bonitta began his club coaching career in 1996, taking the helm of Olimpia Teodora Ravenna in the Italian Serie A. In 1997, he moved to Foppapedretti Bergamo, where he achieved significant success, leading the team to two consecutive Italian Serie A1 league championships in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons. He also guided Foppapedretti Bergamo to victories in the CEV European Champions Cup in 1999 and 2000.
After his first tenure with the Italian national team, Bonitta coached Edilesse Cavriago (2006-2007) and Prisma Taranto Volley (2008-2009). He then coached Volley Tricolore Reggio Emilia (2009-2011) and Club Italia Roma (2011-2012). From 2012 to 2013, he was with Porto Ravenna Volley, which became Porto Robur Costa Ravenna from 2013 to 2014. He returned to Club Italia from 2015 to 2016 and had a third stint with Porto Robur Costa Ravenna from 2019 to 2021, and again from 2022 to 2023, where the team is currently known as Consar RCM Ravenna. In 2021-2022, he coached Indykpol AZS Olsztyn in Poland. In 2024, it was announced that Bonitta would coach LOVB Austin in the newly formed League One Volleyball in the United States.
2.2. National Team Coaching Career
Bonitta first took over the Italy women's national volleyball team in March 2001. Under his leadership, the team secured a silver medal at the 2001 Women's European Volleyball Championship and made history by winning their first World Champion title at the 2002 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship. He also coached the Italian team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where they finished in 5th place. Bonitta resigned from his position in September 2006 due to reported conflicts with key players.
In March 2007, Bonitta was appointed head coach of the Poland women's national volleyball team. He led Poland to their first-ever appearance in the finals of the World Grand Prix in 2007 and guided them to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, marking Poland's first Olympic volleyball appearance in 40 years.
In 2013, Bonitta coached the Italian U21 men's national team. He returned to coach the Italy women's national volleyball team for a second tenure in 2014. During this period, he led the team to a fourth-place finish at the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship hosted in Italy. His second stint with the Italian women's team concluded after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Since 2022, Bonitta has been serving as the head coach for the Slovenia women's national volleyball team.
3. Major Achievements
Marco Bonitta has accumulated a significant number of titles and notable placings throughout his coaching career, both internationally and domestically.
3.1. International Competitions
- CEV European Champions Cup
- 1998-99 - with Foppapedretti Bergamo
- 1999-00 - with Foppapedretti Bergamo
- European Championship
- 2001 - with Italy
- FIVB World Championship
- 2002 - with Italy
- FIVB World Grand Prix
- 2007 - Finalist with Poland (first time in history)
3.2. Domestic Competitions
- Italian SuperCup
- 1997-98 - with Foppapedretti Bergamo
- 1998-99 - with Foppapedretti Bergamo
- 1999-00 - with Foppapedretti Bergamo
- Italian Cup
- 1997-98 - with Foppapedretti Bergamo
- Italian Championship
- 1997-98 - with Foppapedretti Bergamo
- 1998-99 - with Foppapedretti Bergamo
3.3. Youth and Other National Team Achievements
- CEV U20 European Championship
- 2012 - with Italy (men's team)
4. Individual Awards
- 2002: Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
5. Impact and Evaluation
Marco Bonitta is recognized for his significant impact on Italian volleyball and the international stage. His coaching philosophy is characterized by a strong emphasis on developing team cohesion and strategic execution, which was evident in his ability to lead the Italian women's national team to their historic 2002 World Championship title. This victory marked a pivotal moment for Italian volleyball, establishing the nation as a formidable force in the sport.
His tenures with Foppapedretti Bergamo also showcased his capability to build dominant club teams that achieved consistent success in both domestic and European competitions. Bonitta's coaching style, while often leading to triumphs, also faced challenges, notably his resignation from the Italian national team in 2006 due to reported conflicts with key players. Despite this, his ability to rejuvenate teams, as seen with the Polish women's team's historic World Grand Prix finals appearance and Olympic qualification, underscores his adaptability and strategic prowess as a coach. His continued involvement with national teams and the expansion of his coaching career to new leagues like League One Volleyball in the United States further solidifies his enduring influence on the sport of volleyball.
[https://www.legavolley.it/coach/BON-MAR Coach profile at LegaVolley.it]
[https://volleybox.net/pl/marco-bonitta-p41683 Coach profile at Volleybox.net]
[http://www.marcobonitta.it/ Marco Bonitta Official Website]