Nemanja Jovanovic finished his seventh season (2021-22) at SMU, his fourth as the Director of Player Development. He served as the Special?Assistant to the Head?Coach (2016-18) for two seasons after a season as the Director of Video Services (2015-16). Originally from Serbia, Jovanovic began his coaching career in 2002 as the player development coach for BC Zeleznicar Lajkovac. He then went on to work as an assistant coach for one of the top European teams in Red Star Belgrade.
In his seven seasons at SMU, the Mustangs have won The American regular season (2017), the AAC Tournament (2017), made the NCAA tournament (2017) and the NIT twice (2021, 2022). The Mustangs have garnered three American Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors (Nic Moore 2015-16, Seme Ojeleye 2016-17, Kendric Davis 2021-22) and two AAC Sixth Man of the Year awards (Markus Kennedy 2015-16, Ben Emelogu II 2016-17). SMU has a total of 14 All-AAC selections. The program has been in the Associated Press Top 25, being ranked as high as No. 8, and at least receiving votes in six of his seven seasons. The Mustangs have had five players in the NBA (Sterling Brown, Feron Hunt, Shake Milton, Ben Moore, Semi Ojeleye). Several have signed to play professionally throughout the world including Ben?Emelogu II, Isiaha Mike, Nic Moore, Markus Kennedy, Ben Moore and Jordan Tolbert.Â
He joined the Mustangs after stints as the Head Coach for the Nassjo Basket basketball team in Sweden (2015) and the Danish Horsholm 79ers (2012-14). During his two seasons in Denmark, he was also involved with the National Team program as the coach for individual player development. Through 12 seasons of coaching in Europe, he held coaching positions in Serbia, Spain, Denmark and Sweden.
In Serbia, he coached NBA Draft picks Nemanja Bjelica (2010, Round 2, 35th overall to Washington Wizards), who is currently playing for Minnesota Timberwolves; and Nemanja Nedovic (2013, Round 1 / 30th to Phoneix Suns).Â
Jovanovic holds a FIBA coaching license and has basketball coaching certifications from the Basketball Academy Belgrade (Serbia) and the Basketball Academy Madrid (Spain). In 2009, he completed a bachelor's degree in sport/basketball from the University of Belgrade.
In the summer of 2016, he served as a member of the Utah Jazz coaching staff during NBA Summer League.
He and his wife, Nada, have two children, Stefan and Aleksandar.
Â
