After a good career spent playing point guard in his native Porto San Giorgio, Pancotto began coaching in 1982 at the age of 27, taking the bench of his hometown team, U.S. Sangiorgese, at only three matches from the end of the season, gaining promotion to Serie B.
In the 2008-09 season, he took the place of Dragan Šakota after 10 matches on the bench of the glorious team Fortitudo Bologna but, despite a promising final rush, he was unable to avoid relegation.
The season finished with a lot of controversies and bitterness because of a malfunctioning of the "Stop-Lamp" and "Precision Time" during the last match, which condemned the team to relegation.
[1][2] In summer 2009 he was hired by Air Avellino,[3] with the possibility of forming the roster following his directions with an eye on the budget, reduced from the disappointing previous season.
On May 29, 2010 by mutual agreement with the company terminates the contract with Air Avellino,[4] ending the adventure in Irpinia having obtained salvation and the Italian Cup semi-final.