Gašper Okorn has taken over as coach of KK Ilirija in Ljubljana, balancing his new club role with his position as selector of Hungary’s national team. The 53-year-old coach expressed deep satisfaction with returning to his home city to lead a squad focused on youth development and modern basketball strategy.
Returning Home to Tivoli Hall
For 53-year-old coach Gašper Okorn, accepting the new challenge at Ilirija represents a significant homecoming. According to Rtvslo reporting, Okorn has previously coached all of Slovenia’s major clubs—including Olimpija, Krka, Helios, Slovan, and Škofji Loki—before taking on this latest post.
Gašper Okorn stated that being able to coach in Ljubljana is like a gift to him, describing the opportunity to work in his home city as a gift. He noted that beyond Olimpija, Krka and Ilirija are the only other Slovenian clubs operating at a truly competitive level, leaving few equivalent positions for coaches who wish to stay home.
The club now plays its home matches at Tivoli Hall, a venue that holds deep personal significance for Okorn. It was there, many years ago, that his coaching journey began when he served as an assistant with Olimpija. Stipe Modrić previously managed the team before moving to Zadar over the summer, prompting sports director Saša Dončić to hand the reins to Okorn.
Balancing Youth Development with Competitive Ambitions
Ilirija enters the new season with a vastly altered roster following significant player turnover. While Murić remains from last season’s core group, players like Faganel, Boisa, and Gabrijel are expected to step into much larger roles. The club also brought in foreign players who fit their financial reach, including Cole and Todorović, alongside domestic talents such as Hrabar and Čop.
Okorn highlighted the club’s modern philosophy of balancing results with player cultivation. The team aims not just to compete, but to develop young prospects and position them for opportunities in leagues like the NCAA. While the roster lacks the individual veteran experience carried by former players like Marjanović and Popović, Okorn praised the energy and athleticism of his young squad.
Gašper Okorn acknowledged that everyone naturally loves chasing results, adding that on one hand he has already achieved some results in his career so that maybe he is not even under that much pressure regarding it, while on the other hand speaking frankly that they want to play in one of the finals in domestic competitions, meaning either in the cup or the championship, which would be a first for Ilirija.
Managing a Squeeze on Domestic Talent
Building a competitive roster in Slovenia has brought distinct structural hurdles for Ilirija. According to Okorn, a major shortage of available domestic basketball players has forced the club to look abroad, particularly to fill center positions where capable Slovenian players at this competitive level are exceptionally rare.
Compounding the local talent drain, Ilirija experienced heavy departures of young players to the NCAA, leaving the squad heavily reliant on international additions alongside its few remaining local mainstays like Hrabar.
Physicality, Defense, and Dual Responsibilities
On the international stage, Okorn continues to manage a demanding schedule as the selector of Hungary’s national team, where he is actively contesting a spot in the world championship alongside Slovenia. Back in Ljubljana, he is shaping Ilirija into an aggressive, high-contact defensive unit.
Because the squad is young and athletic, Okorn plans to lean heavily on pressure, running, and physical defense rather than relying on individual artistry.