Murray State Men's Basketball Head Coach Billy Kennedy announced the hiring of assistant coaches Isaac Chew and Jamall Walker.
Chew joins MSU from Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, while Walker comes to Murray after coaching last season at Saint Louis University and Ball State before that.
"I'm excited to be adding Jamall and Isaac to our staff,” Kennedy said. “Jamall's experience at Ball State and Saint Louis will help us recruit in some new areas. He's played and worked for some great coaches like Brad Soderberg, Charlie Spoonhour and Steve Eck, and they all prepared him very well.”
Walker's most recent coaching post was last season at Saint Louis University where he was the Billiken's recruiting coordinator. He was involved in all scouting for the SLU program that finished with the program's first 20-win season in 10 years. From 2004 through 2006, he served as an assistant coach at Ball State University where he directed all recruiting efforts, academic progress of the team and team camps.
Walker was also an assistant coach at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla. from 2002 through 2004 where his team advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament twice and finished runner-up in 2004. He also assisted at F.L. Schlage High School in Overland Park, Kan. and Alton, Ill. High School from 1999 to 2002.
He has also served as counselor and lecturer at the basketball camps held by Stanford University, Saint Louis University, Liberty University and Michael Jordan.
Walker had a decorated prep career at Wichita, Kan. South High School where he was a nominee for McDonald's All-American after being a two-time All-Wichita City and Kansas All-State selection. He played two seasons at Redlands where his team finished runner-up in the in the NCJAA National Tournament in 2004. Walker played at Saint Louis University from 1995 through 1999 and was a three-year starter and co-captain. He was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 1996.
Billy Kennedy also touted the credentials of Isaac Chew.
“Isaac's connections to the Chicago and Kansas City areas and knowing some of the top junior college programs was something I was looking for,” Kennedy said. “The year Indian Hills had last season was special and he was an integral part of their success.”
Indeed Chew had a great 2006-07 season as an assistant coach with Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa where his team finished the regular season 29-0, the first NJCAA D-I team to accomplish a perfect mark since 2002. Indian Hills advanced to the NJCAA National tournament for the first time in five seasons; they finished with a 33-3 mark. Chew also coached two All-Region players at Indian Hills.
Isaac started his coaching career as an assistant at Avila University in Kansas City, Mo. from 1999 to 2001. His responsibilities included practice and game preparation, recruiting, travel planning and scouting. Chew also had another coaching stint with Avila from 2004 through 2006.
Since 2000, Chew has also directed and coached the Kansas City Keys and the Kansas City Pump n' Run AAU basketball teams. During that time, Chew coached 25 players who signed NCAA D-1 and D-2 scholarships.
As a player, Chew was the West Chicago Public League Player of the Year out of Wells Community Academy and played college basketball at Iowa Lakes Community College from 1994 to 1996. He was named Iowa Lakes Defensive Player of the Year in 1996. Chew finished his playing career at Avila.
"I want to thank Coach Jeff Kidder (Indiana Hills)," Chew said. "I learned so much on and off the court from him and I'm looking forward to working with the Murray State program."
"I'm very excited to get the opportunity at Murray State," Walker said. "I'm looking forward to working with Coach Kennedy and the tradition rich Racer program."
Isaac Chew and Jamall Walker join Steve Prohm to complete the Murray State staff.
