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 Chew comes to the Fighting Illini program after spending last
season on Frank Haith's staff at Missouri, where he helped lead the
Tigers to 30 wins, a Big 12 tournament title and No. 2 seed in the NCAA
tournament. Chew previously spent four years as an assistant
at Murray State under Billy Kennedy from 2008-11. While at Murray
State he helped lead the Racers to a school-record 31 wins and NCAA
tournament round of 32 appearance in 2010 and 23 wins and NIT
appearance in 2011, as well as back-to-back Ohio Valley titles. He
also recruited and helped develop players such as Isacc Miles
(three-time all-OVC, 2009-11) and Ivan Aska (OVC Freshman of the
Year, 2009).
"We are fortunate to have one of the top assistants in the country
join our program in Isaac Chew," Groce said. "He has a tremendous
reputation throughout the coaching community, and it's easy to see
why when you look at the outstanding job he has done recruiting,
developing and teaching players everywhere he's been, most recently
at Murray State and Missouri. Isaac shares our vision for the future
of Fighting Illini basketball and will be a great fit with our
staff."
A native of Chicago, Chew was the 1994 Public League Blue-West
Player of the Year at Wells High School. He then played at Iowa
Lakes Community College, followed by Avila University in Kansas
City. Chew earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Avila in
1999.
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Chew entered the coaching ranks at his alma mater, serving as an
assistant at Avila from 2000-01. He continued his education
meanwhile, earning an MBA from Baker University in 2002. Chew
also experienced the AAU circuit, coaching with Kansas City Pump
'n' Run and Kansas City Keys. He returned to Avila as an
assistant from 2005-06 and then spent one year as an assistant
at Indian Hills Community College, helping guide the Warriors to
34 wins and trip to the 2007 NJCAA DI tournament.
"This is a great opportunity for me to come back to my home
state and be part of one of the top programs in the country,"
Chew said. "I know Coach Groce is committed to having a presence
in Chicago, and I will work tirelessly in the city, as well as
nationally, to recruit the very best players who can succeed
here at the University of Illinois."
Chew and his wife, Patrice, have four children, Deijah, Jada,
Patrick and Caasi.
[Text from
news release received from Derrick Burson, associate sports
information director, University of Illinois]
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