Highlander Nation Welcomes Coach Chu

Zach Chu, the new head coach of men’s basketball, met Highlander Nation at a press conference and fan meet-and-greet in the Dedmon Center on March 19. Chu is the ninth head coach in the storied program’s history.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Chu brings with him more than nine years of experience in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and most recently served as the chief strategist for men's basketball at Southern Methodist University (SMU).

“We are delighted that Zach Chu has chosen to take the next step in his career by agreeing to become the head coach of Radford University's men’s basketball team,” said President Bret Danilowicz. “Zach's relentless work ethic, data-driven strategy and proven success at both collegiate and professional levels make him the right leader for this moment. We are confident he will elevate our program and uphold Radford's tradition of success on and off the court.”

While at SMU, Chu helped the Mustangs achieve a 23-10 record overall, including a mark of 13-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Prior to his role at SMU, Chu served for three seasons on Rick Carlisle's staff with the Indiana Pacers as the manager of game strategy and analytics. While he was with the Pacers, the squad advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2023-24.

Chu also worked for two seasons as the analytics liaison to Carlisle with the Dallas Mavericks. 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.

“Zach has worked alongside some of the most brilliant minds in basketball,” Radford Athletics Director Robert Lineburg said. “I am confident that he and his staff will bring a modern, innovative approach to Radford while building on the legacy of the great coaches who came before him.”

Chu earned a degree in finance from the University of Richmond, where he was a walk-on member of the men’s basketball team from 2011-15.

“The landscape of intercollegiate athletics is undergoing rapid change, and I am grateful that Robert Lineburg and Dr. Danilowicz embrace a forward-looking mindset,” Chu said. “From the top down at Radford, there's a positive energy that will allow us to create an environment to facilitate success for our student-athletes both academically and athletically.”