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Zach Chu, the new men's basketball coach at Radford, has limited experience in the college game.
But SMU coach Andy Enfield, who was Chu's boss this season, expects the 32-year-old Chu to succeed in his new job.
"He's a great basketball mind," Enfield said in a phone interview. "Radford hit a home run with the hire."
Radford announced Chu as its new coach Sunday. The Dallas native will meet with the media and Radford fans Wednesday.
This was Chu's first season on a college staff after previously working in the NBA.
Chu had the title of "chief strategist" on Enfield's staff. Enfield, who is in his first season at SMU, had never had a chief strategist at his previous head-coaching stops. But he created the position for Chu at SMU last summer because he was impressed with the analytics work that Chu had been doing in the NBA.
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"He was a big part of our staff," Enfield said. "He kind of takes an analytical approach to how he does things and it's been very effective. I think he's going to be a great first-time coach for Radford.
"He helped us with every scouting report. ... He was a guy on our staff I relied upon to help (with) play-calling during the games with what plays are working based on how teams are defending us and how do we want to attack their defense -- and also floor spacing and our transition offense because he had an NBA background.
"He helped us strategize in recruiting and he was going to be a big part of the (SMU activity in the) transfer portal with his methodology ... to how to put a 'Moneyball' approach to the transfer portal because in reality, you only have so much money to spend in NIL or revenue sharing. ... There will be a theoretical salary cap and each school may be slightly different."
Chu's analytics advice has helped NIT participant SMU average 80 points this season.
"The analytics is points per possession on the offensive and defensive end -- how do we increase our efficiency? How do we space the floor? ... How do we run our offense in transition and the half court?" Enfield said. "And then you also have the player personnel side."
ESPN analyst and former Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg has been friends with Chu's father, Daniel Chu, since the mid-1980s, when Greenberg was a Miami assistant and the elder Chu was a graduate assistant. The elder Chu is no longer in coaching; he is now a very successful businessman who founded Tricolor Auto Group, which sells used cars.
Greenberg recommended Zach Chu to Richmond coach Chris Mooney when Chu was interested in becoming a college walk-on. Chu was a little-used Richmond backup from 2011-15.
Chu spent a few days with Greenberg after getting hired by SMU.
"He's ... kind of next generation with the analytics and the game planning," Greenberg said. "Very, very smart. Great people skills. ... He's kind of like that new generation of guys that grew up in the film room first.
"(From) how he started and where he is today, you don't make that journey unless you grind.
"He'll do a great job. I'm really impressed."
Greenberg said Chu already has a philosophy of how he wants his team to play offensively.
"They'll play with great spacing and pace and he'll recruit to that system," Greenberg said.
Mooney had recommended Chu get into coaching when Chu played for the Spiders.
"He's very impressive and he's very bright and a great communicator, so I thought he would have a chance to be successful in anything. ... I thought he could really do very well in coaching," Mooney said.
Mooney said Chu is ready to be a head coach.
"Because everything has evolved so fast and so dramatically (in college basketball) in the past three years, I think he is ready," Mooney said. "When you're in the NBA, while that is a different experience than college, it's basketball 365."
Mooney has discussed analytics with Chu.
"If somebody says, 'Well, you guys made 31% of your shots from that area of the floor at this time in the game,' that doesn't mean anything. But he can give you the reasons why it does mean something ... and how you can improve upon that," Mooney said. "He takes the analytics and he can make things applicable and practical in the way he describes it."
After getting his start as a player development intern with the Los Angeles Clippers, Chu spent three seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA G League.
Chu then spent five years working for NBA head coach Rick Carlisle. He was the analytics liason to Carlisle with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. Carlisle then got the Indiana Pacers head-coaching job and took Chu with him. Chu served as the Pacers' manager of game strategy and analytics for three seasons before leaving for SMU.
Chu will now use analytics to try to help Radford win.
"The analytics by themselves is nothing. It's the analytics in relation to your personnel. It's the analytics in relation to your system," Greenberg said. "You've got to make the numbers make sense. ... The analytics tell you how you're going to defend. The analytics tell you what you're going to try to do offensively. The analytics tell you how to put players in position to play to their strengths."
Enfield said Chu is ready to be a head coach.
"When you're in the NBA, those seasons are so long, ... you get so much experience analyzing video and being part of practices and game planning," Enfield said. "He's very experienced for someone that's in his early 30s.
"His experience as a G League assistant coach and then the analytic (work) ... in the NBA and at SMU really gives him a great background to become a very successful coach early in his career."
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Guard Phillip Russell, center, celebrates with his VCU teammates Sunday after the Rams defeated George Mason 68-63 in the Atlantic 10 championship game in Washington.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU forward Christian Fermin celebrates after the Rams defeated George Mason 68-63 in the Atlantic 10 championship game in Washington on Sunday. The Rams will face BYU in Denver on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Joe Bamisile (22) celebrates after winning the A-10 Tournament Championship Game against George Mason, in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU coach Ryan Odom celebrates on Sunday after his team's victory over George Mason in the Atlantic 10 tournament championship game in Washington.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Brandon Jennings (0) cuts down the net after winning the A-10 Tournament Championship Game against George Mason, in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU head coach Ryan Odom yells to his players during the A-10 Tournament Championship Game against George Mason, in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Michael Belle (8) and George Mason forward Zach Anderson (10) during the A-10 Tournament Championship Game in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
George Mason forward Jalen Haynes reacts Sunday during the A-10 tournament championship game against VCU in Washington. Haynes led the Patriots with 17 points and eight rebounds.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Joe Bamisile (22) is illuminated on the bench before the A-10 Tournament Championship Game against George Mason, in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU forward Christian Fermin (21) shoots the ball over George Mason forward Zach Anderson (10) during the A-10 Tournament Championship Game in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Zeb Jackson drives around George Mason guard Jared Billups during the Atlantic 10 tournament championship game in Washington on Sunday.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
George Mason guard Woody Newton (2) and VCU guard Max Shulga (11) box out during the A-10 Tournament Championship Game in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Max Shulga attempts to drive around George Mason forward Giovanni Emejuru during the Rams' 68-63 victory in Washington on Sunday. Shulga, the conference player of the year, scored 18 points and was named to the all-tournament team.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Max Shulga shoots the ball over George Mason guard Darius Maddox during Sunday's A-10 championship game in Washington.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH Photos: VCU defeats George Mason in Atlantic 10 men's basketball championship
The Rams added an A-10 tournament championship to go with their regular season crown
Guard Phillip Russell, center, celebrates with his VCU teammates Sunday after the Rams defeated George Mason 68-63 in the Atlantic 10 championship game in Washington.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU forward Christian Fermin celebrates after the Rams defeated George Mason 68-63 in the Atlantic 10 championship game in Washington on Sunday. The Rams will face BYU in Denver on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Joe Bamisile (22) celebrates after winning the A-10 Tournament Championship Game against George Mason, in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU coach Ryan Odom celebrates on Sunday after his team's victory over George Mason in the Atlantic 10 tournament championship game in Washington.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Brandon Jennings (0) cuts down the net after winning the A-10 Tournament Championship Game against George Mason, in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU head coach Ryan Odom yells to his players during the A-10 Tournament Championship Game against George Mason, in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Michael Belle (8) and George Mason forward Zach Anderson (10) during the A-10 Tournament Championship Game in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
George Mason forward Jalen Haynes reacts Sunday during the A-10 tournament championship game against VCU in Washington. Haynes led the Patriots with 17 points and eight rebounds.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Joe Bamisile (22) is illuminated on the bench before the A-10 Tournament Championship Game against George Mason, in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU forward Christian Fermin (21) shoots the ball over George Mason forward Zach Anderson (10) during the A-10 Tournament Championship Game in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Zeb Jackson drives around George Mason guard Jared Billups during the Atlantic 10 tournament championship game in Washington on Sunday.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
George Mason guard Woody Newton (2) and VCU guard Max Shulga (11) box out during the A-10 Tournament Championship Game in Washington, D.C., Sunday, March 16, 2025.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Max Shulga attempts to drive around George Mason forward Giovanni Emejuru during the Rams' 68-63 victory in Washington on Sunday. Shulga, the conference player of the year, scored 18 points and was named to the all-tournament team.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
VCU guard Max Shulga shoots the ball over George Mason guard Darius Maddox during Sunday's A-10 championship game in Washington.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
Mark Berman (540) 981-3125
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Zach Chu introductory press conference
at Dedmon Center
Wednesday
6 p.m., ESPN Plus
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