Saint Joseph's University announced this week that Alex Zachem will step into the role of Assistant Coach and Director of Video and Player Development for the women's basketball team, a move that reunites a recent alumna with the program that helped shape her athletic identity.
Zachem arrives after a standout tenure at UCLA, where she contributed to the Bruins' 2026 NCAA National Championship and honed her skills as Video Coordinator, overseeing scouting reports and video preparation for the team's strategic arsenal.
A Champion’s Return
Beyond the hardwood, Zachem's background in the entertainment industry — including stints at HBO and NBCUniversal — has equipped her with a unique perspective on storytelling and data‑driven analysis, assets she plans to weave into the Hawks' developmental pipeline.
A 2017 graduate of Saint Joseph's, she earned a Magna Cum Laude degree in Business Administration with a concentration in finance, a testament to her ability to balance rigorous academic pursuits with elite athletics.
During her undergraduate years she captained the women's tennis squad, guiding the team through four seasons as a four‑year starter, a leadership role that foreshadowed her later success in video coordination and player development.
The university also highlighted the contributions of Cindy Griffin and Coach Close, whose collaborative vision aligns with Zachem's analytical approach, signaling a cohesive strategy to elevate the program's competitive edge.
Local observers note that Zachem's dual roots in Philadelphia and Westwood, California, position her to bridge the geographic and cultural gaps between the East Coast campus and the broader basketball landscape, fostering connections that could prove pivotal for recruiting and community engagement.