2022 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Milan 'Ciga' Vasojevic

MIES (Switzerland) - Revered Serbian playcaller Milan 'Ciga' Vasojevic is having his impressive coaching accomplishments and legacy recognized via a posthumous induction to the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Vasojevic is being enshrined in the Class of 2022 as part of a nine-strong group that have all contributed significantly to the development of women's basketball.

The Class also includes deserved recognition for a number of others coaches including Geno Auriemma (USA), Antonio Barbosa (Brazil) and Maria Planas (Spain). The remainder of the inductees are honored for their efforts on the court, with the player inductees made up from Lisa Leslie (USA), Robyn Maher (Australia), Catarina Pollini (Italy), Jurgita Streimikyte-Virbickiene (Lithuania) and Mame Maty Mbengue (Senegal).

Vasojevic's coaching roots were initially sown in the men's game and at Radnicki Belgrade during  the 1970's, he came mightily close to leading them to Cup Winners Cup glory. But, they were agonizingly squeezed out 87-86 in the 1977 Final by Cantu of Italy.

Switching to the women's game, his arrival as the head coach of the Yugoslavia national team in 1980 sparked a truly halcyon period, with his impact on the team huge from the outset.

Indeed, he delivered instant success in what many in his homeland saw as something of a revolution in the way that he changed the generations and put faith in young and dynamic players.

During his first year at the helm, he led the team to history by delivering Yugoslavia a first ever Olympic medal. They took bronze at the Moscow Games, coming out 68-65 against Hungary in a dramatic Third Place Game. 

His amazing first few months in charge continued when he stepped out for his maiden FIBA Women's Eurobasket. He made sure the host nation got onto the podium again as Yugoslavia secured a bronze medal at the event. 

The next major milestone that made everyone sit up and take notice was at the 1987 University Games when he led the Yugoslavia women's team to its first ever senior international gold medal - more poignant as it was won in Zagreb.

A matter of weeks later and Yugoslavia made the FIBA Women's EuroBasket Final in Spain, taking the silver medal and equalling their best ever finish after being eased out 83-73  by a dominant Soviet Union. 

By the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Yugoslavia were in full flow and packed with some amazing talent and eyeing up history. Improving on their bronze medal from Moscow back in 1980 was the aim. Vasojevic came up with the goods for his country, masterminding a run to their first ever title game.

The one point win and last second score by Anđelija Arbutina against Australia in the Semi-Finals remians the stuff of legend and even if they didn't manage to ultimately take gold, there was immense pride in landing silver behind the USA who won 77-70 in the Final.

The level of respect which Vasojevic commanded was also clearly demonstrated after his passing at 63 years old during 1996, when tributes poured in from around the world. The play-caller also had his legacy recognized afterwards with the Ivkovic Award For Lifetime Achievement in 2000, while six years later, the Serbian Women's National Cup was renamed in his honor.

The ceremony for his posthumous induction will take place on November 30 in Mies, Switzerland.

Name	Milan 'Ciga' VASOJEVIC
Category of Inductee	Coach
Date of birth	December 27th 1932 - December 24th 1996
Place of birth	Belgrade, Serbia
Nationality	Serbian
Clubs	Radnicki Belgrade (1960-1962) Crvena Zvezda (1965-1966) Radnicki Belgrade (1976-1977) Italmeco Bari (1988-1990) [/unordered]
Club highlights	Yugoslavian League Champion (1961) Two-time Yugoslavian Cup Winners (1960, 1962) [/unordered]
National Team highlights	Balkan U18 Championship silver medalist (1982) Five-time Balkan Championship gold medalist (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1988) Two-time Balkan Championship silver medalist (1982, 1986) FIBA World Championship U18 bronze medalist (1985) University Games  bronze and gold medalist (1983, 1987) EuroBasket U16 silver (1982) and bronze medalist (1986) EuroBasket U18 silver medalist (1986) FIBA Women's EuroBasket bronze medalist (1980) and silver medalist (1987) Olympic Games bronze medalist (1980) and silver medalist (1988) [/unordered]
Individual highlights	National Team Coach (1980-1989) Ivkovic Award for Lifetime Achievement (2000) Serbian Women's National Cup named in his honor (2006) [/unordered]

FIBA