Meet the Team

Danilo Cmiljanic

Founder and Head Coach

The Founder and IBA Hoops Team Director is a former professional basketball player from Serbia with over a decade of experience coaching youth athletes in Chicago. As a player, he won a European Championship, competed in the Youth Olympic Games, and played for multiple European clubs in the EuroLeague and ULEB Cup. Danilo is a FIBA-certified basketball coach and athletic director with more than 15 years of experience developing and educating student-athletes in the Chicago area.

Elijah Bridgers

Coach

Elijah grew up in Missouri, where he played varsity basketball and contributed to multiple state tournament runs, including a Co-State Championship in 2020. He continued his basketball career at Missouri State University before moving to Chicago to pursue his master’s degree and coaching career.

Since graduating, Elijah has coached at every level, bringing a unique combination of playing experience and academic knowledge to his approach. He is passionate about athlete development, with a focus on building confidence, enhancing skills, and fostering a lifelong love for the game of basketball.