Inside The Huskies

Former UW Basketball Assistant Chillious Hired By Utah

He previously coached two different stints for Lorenzo Romar in Montlake.

Dan Raley

Then Huskies assistant coach Raphael Chillious works the UW sideline in 2012. He's been hired by Utah.
Then Huskies assistant coach Raphael Chillious works the UW sideline in 2012. He's been hired by Utah. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Raphael Chillious, previously a successful basketball recruiter for the University of Washington, on Friday joined the new Utah Utes coaching staff headed up by Alex Jensen.

He comes to Salt Lake City after serving as an NBA assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies this past season. Jensen currently is finishing up his duties as a Dallas Mavericks assistant while filling out his staff.

Chillious twice coached for Lorenzo Romar in Montlake, totaling seven seasons in 2010-12 and 2014-2017.

A Maryland native, he was credited with putting together a 2014 UW class that ranked No. 6 nationally and consisted of guards Dejounte Murray and Matisse Thybulle, and forward Marquese Chriss, all eventual NBA players.

Chillious also played a pivotal role in bringing guard Markelle Fultz to the Huskies for the 2016-17 season and helping turn him into the NBA's No. 1 overall pick after playing for the UW only as a freshman.

After leaving Seattle, Chillious coached two seasons at Connecticut and another at East Carolina before turning to the NBA.

He initially joined Romar as a replacement for Cameron Dollar after the latter became the Seattle University head coach, worked with Isaiah Thomas and left after three seasons to coach at Villanova.

After two years back East, the man known as "Chills" rejoined Romar's staff and stayed four seasons until the UW made a coaching change.

For the 2013-14 season, the Huskies had T.J. Otzelberger, now the Iowa State head coach, and Chillious as the lead assistant coaches.

For the latest UW football and basketball news, go to si.com/college/washington

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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