Meet Danny Tuchman, a Glenview native whose journey took him from the bustling city of Chicago back to the North Shore with a mission to transform youth sports. After launching the Hi-Five Sports Zone at Northbrook Court, Danny returned to the suburbs, where his passion for community and innovation thrives. Now deeply rooted in Northbrook, he’s not just running a business but creating a vibrant space where kids are inspired and families connect. Danny’s vision goes beyond the ordinary—he’s dedicated to making Hi-Five a place where every child feels like they belong, all while building a legacy of impact and growth. Learn more about Hi-Five, from conception in 1990 to the evolution of where Hi-Five thrives today, and the family that fuels the fire. Welcome, Danny!
Hi Danny! Please introduce yourself. Where are you from, where do you live now, what brought you to your current town?
Hi, I’m Danny, Tuchman. I was born and raised in Glenview and spent my college years, as well as a few years afterward, in the city. When I opened the Hi-Five Sports Zone at Northbrook Court, I knew it was time to return to the suburbs, so I moved to Northbrook to be closer to the Zone and more involved on-site.
I truly enjoy being immersed in the community, whether it’s running into Hi-Five families around town or building relationships with fellow business owners. My goal is not only to grow and improve our business for the benefit of the kids but also to give back to the community through various charities and support other local businesses in their growth. It’s incredibly rewarding to have such amazing customers; sometimes, it doesn’t even feel like work!
Although I don’t have kids of my own yet, I pour all my energy into treating each Hi-Five child as if they were my own. I currently live with my two dogs, Tux, who’s 14, and Bleu, who’s 4.
And your talented Hi-Five team…
My Hi-Five team is essential to my growth, both personally and professionally. Each member embodies the Hi-Five Way and has a genuine passion for working with children. Key team members include:
Miss Dani, based in Northbrook, with her supportive husband David and their four Hi-Five participants. Dani’s dedication is crucial to our success.
Coach PJ, in his 8th year, lives in Lake Forest with his wife Hannah, an Assistant Principal, and their son Fitz. His exceptional work ethic ensures our kids are safe and happy.
Coach Dan, a childhood friend from GBS, and his wife Angela, live locally. Dan’s unmatched passion for basketball is evident in his coaching.
Coaches Jordan, Graham, Caroline, and Nancie each bring their unique approaches to teaching, while Marissa and Lindsay have been key in developing our successful Gymnastics program.
Our teamwork is a source of pride and a value we instill in the children. Lastly, my family: my brother Ryan, who emphasizes innovation, and my father Marv, whose vision created Hi-Five, inspire us to honor his legacy and push boundaries.
Please introduce Hi-Five Sports North Shore. When did you start these sports classes for kids?
Hi-Five was founded in 1990 by my father, Marv. I’ve had the privilege of experiencing every role within the organization—from camper to CIT, coach, and director—before stepping into my current role of running the business alongside my brother, Ryan. Since its inception, we’ve expanded significantly; Ryan has successfully franchised Hi-Five, and we now have locations in 15+ cities across the country. Additionally, we launched the Hi-Five Sports Zone in 2014, which is the first boutique sports facility of its kind in shopping centers nationwide custom-built for children. As we approach our 35th year, we’re excited about our continued growth, not only on the North Shore but nationally. We’re committed to staying strong and making a lasting impact.
Hi-Five is a family business started by your father, Marv, in 1990. What role does your family play in the day-to-day operations?
My brother and business partner, Ryan, reside in Florida with his wife, Jennifer, and my two wonderful nieces, Izzy, 17, who worked at our camp this summer, and Taylor, 12. My father, Marv, the founder of Hi-Five, lives in Glenview. We lost our mother nine years ago to ovarian cancer, and my brother and I continue to run Hi-Five with her memory in our hearts. She serves as a constant source of inspiration and motivation for us.
Why do you feel you are so innovative and in a league of your own so to speak?
We treat our business and offerings like a living thing. We never stop learning, growing, and changing with the times. We don’t settle for the status quo and constantly evolve what we do. For example, in the 90s we focused on a summer sports camp and basketball leagues. We evolved into multiple age groups starting as young as 6 months, year-round programs, and options in various sports.
Next, we created the Hi-Five Sports Zone together with our French Bulldog mascot and our unique approach to financial literacy.
Now we are gearing up for our newest innovation which is bringing the newest concepts to our Zone locations and camps. We pride ourselves by being the first to start trends!
What is your why?
I work with children because I find great joy in giving back and making them smile. My passion extends beyond just teaching sports; I’m deeply committed to imparting valuable life lessons and supporting their growth and development. I believe in continuously enhancing our programs to create the best possible experience for each child. There’s really nothing I wouldn’t do to ensure that our programs are as impactful and enriching as they can be.
What is the unique philosophy of Hi-Five Sports that is so appealing to young families here on the North Shore?
What truly distinguishes us is the ‘Hi-Five Way,’ which is built upon core pillars that guide our approach. We are dedicated to ensuring that kids not only learn sports but also embrace essential values such as friendship, family, teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, loyalty, and respect. These principles were instilled in my brother and me by our father and other role models during our upbringing, and we are committed to passing them on to every child in our programs.
A note from my brother Ryan about this: “We think of Hi-Five in the same respect as higher education. We expose young children to a number of team sports in a fun and entertaining manner that is not intimidating or negative in any way. We allow them to choose the path that they want to go down. Whether it’s a focus on one specific sport or none at all. The treasure is in the positive experiences they had in team sports that will shape them for the rest of their lives.
You’re uniquely positioned to offer before and after school programming. Tell us about that and how the kids get to and from your location.
We offer a variety of before and after-school programs, which are hosted at our Hi-Five Sports Zone, Berto Center, and Willow Hill Dome. Families have the option to drop off their children directly or utilize our convenient one-way shuttle service to transport them to any of our locations.
What else would you like us to know about Hi-Five?
As we’ve often emphasized, our commitment to innovation and keeping things exciting remains unwavering. This year, we’re set to unveil a major announcement that will revolutionize Summer Sports Camps in the North Shore. Stay tuned—this upcoming news will truly set a new standard for the area as we continue to be the Premier Sports Club in the North Shore.
Coach Danny with his nieces.
And, finally, your contact details please…
You can learn all about our programming by visiting our web site at https://www.hifivesportsclubs.com/locations/north-shore/. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on school day off camps, summer camp offerings, announcements and more!