Radford University officially introduced its new men’s basketball coach, Zach Chu, during a special press conference this past week at the Dedmon Center. Pictured are (from left) Athletic Director Robert Lineburg, Chu and RU president Bret Danilowicz.
Marty Gordon
Radford University has officially announced Zach Chu as its ninth men’s basketball coach in the history of the school.
He met with supporters, fans and athletic staff last week at a special press conference in the building he will now call home, the Dedmon Center. The new coach said he is excited about the opportunity and is ready to jump into the deep end of the mid-major basketball program.
Chu was on a whirlwind week that included an appearance in the ACC tournament as a member of the Southern Methodist University staff.
Here’s what others are saying about the hire:
“Zach is one of the brightest young basketball minds I have been around. He has developed a real edge with his ability to see the game with a balance of analytics, instinct and feel. I expect him to capitalize on these gifts and bring great success to Radford.”
– Donnie Nelson, Former General Manager and President of Basketball Operations and NBA Champion with the Dallas Mavericks
“Zach Chu is a forward-thinking choice to continue the tradition of Radford University basketball. Where Coach Chu goes, success follows.”
– Rick Carlisle, Current Indiana Pacers Head Coach and Two-Time NBA Champion
“Zach Chu is a next generation, forward thinking coach. He has worked for one of the best coaches in the NBA in Rick Carlisle and worked with some of the best players in the NBA. He missed no step in his basketball journey. Zach is a great communicator and teacher. He has coached all over the world. I have no doubt he will have tremendous success at Radford.”
– Seth Greenberg, Current ESPN Broadcaster and Former Head Coach at Long Beach State, South Florida and Virginia Tech
“Zach is a tremendous choice to lead Radford Basketball! He is extremely intelligent and hard-working. He has thrived in his career in the NBA and the ACC because of his innovative approach and his ability to communicate effectively with players and coaches. His vision for the future of Radford Basketball is unique and exciting! Zach and the Highlanders will thrive in this new era of college basketball.”
– Chris Mooney, University of Richmond Men’s Basketball Head Coach
“Zach is very creative in his coaching approach which will help his staff navigate the ever-changing environment in college basketball. Zach can help players develop their skill sets quickly and improve offensively and defensively. Radford hired one of the best young minds in the college game and I look forward to watching the team’s success.
– Andy Enfield, SMU Men’s Basketball Head Coach
A native of Dallas, Texas, Chu brings with him over nine years of experience in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and most recently served as the Chief Strategist for Men’s Basketball for SMU for the past season.
“The landscape of intercollegiate athletics is undeniably undergoing rapid change,” Chu said as he reflected on his new role with the Highlanders. “The traditional methods of building a program are far less relevant. I have strong conviction that an analytically driven strategy can create a distinct competitive advantage, particularly when applied end-to-end across a basketball program from player evaluation, to portal management, to game strategy.”
“I am grateful that Robert and Dr. Danilowicz embrace a forward-looking mindset,” Chu added. “We can create an environment to facilitate success for our student-athletes which prioritizes their development both academically and athletically. From the top down at Radford, there’s a positive energy which drives a belief that we can take a differentiated approach and create sustainable success.”
While at SMU, Chu helped the Mustangs to a 23-10 record overall, which included a mark of 13-7 in conference play. The team advanced to the ACC quarterfinals and put itself in position to become a bubble team for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, all during the program’s first year in the prestigious power conference.
Prior to his role with the Mustangs, Chu served for three seasons on Carlisle’s staff with the Indiana Pacers as the Manager of Game Strategy and Analytics. While with the Pacers, the squad advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2023-24. He also hit the sidelines as an assistant coach for Indiana’s summer league team for two summers in Las Vegas.
Before his time in Indiana, Chu served as an assistant coach for three years with the Texas Legends, the G-League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks, followed by two seasons as the analytics liaison to Carlisle with the Mavs.
During Chu’s tenure with the Mavericks, the team achieved the most efficient offense in NBA history at the time with an offensive rating of 115.9 in 2020. His time with the Legends was highlighted by a 29-21 campaign in 2017-18, which led to the team’s second post season appearance all-time since moving to Texas.
Chu spent his first year in the NBA as a player development intern with the Los Angeles Clippers.
To go with his standout experience in the professional ranks, Chu has also traveled extensively as part of Nike’s grassroots basketball initiatives, which included eight trips to Asia as a coach and ambassador for the game of basketball. His experience included work with the Nike All-Asia camp in Guangdong, China and with the Chinese National Team in Beijing.
Chu graduated from the University of Richmond where he was a walk-on member of the men’s basketball team from 2011-15. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the institution in 2015.
The new coach held a practice with returning players on Friday and is jumping head-first into the transfer portal to fill Radford’s needs.
