For Chuka Mekkam ’23, the journey from the hardwood of Fugate Gymnasium to the bustling streets of Central Asia was not something he could have mapped out himself.
The former Newman University basketball player now serves as the head basketball coach and assistant to the vice rector of international affairs at Kimyo International University in Tashkent (KIUT), the first private university in Uzbekistan.
A ‘divine appointment’
After attending Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon, Mekkam went on to win an NJCAA National Championship at Vincennes University in Indiana before playing Division I basketball at Drexel University in Pennsylvania. When it came time to complete his basketball eligibility while pursuing his graduate degree, Mekkam discovered Newman University. The draw was a long-standing relationship with head coach RJ Allen.
“He is amazing. He’s a people person,” Mekkam said. “He’s a really tough guy, a smart coach, but also just a caring individual. I know of so many people that he’s looked out for and helped while we were here (at Newman).”
While Mekkam excelled in the classroom, even earning the Outstanding MBA Student Award in 2023, his transition into coaching happened almost by accident. After graduating, he was helping Allen with recruits during an open gym when he crossed paths with Newman alumnus and former Sunrise Christian Academy coach Luke Barnwell ‘13.
“It was like a divine appointment,” Mekkam said. “Luke liked my energy. He told me that he liked who I was. We started having conversations about the Lord and he told me he wanted me to be one of his assistant coaches.”
A week later, Barnwell offered him a position at Sunrise Christian Academy, one of the nation’s premier prep basketball programs. Mekkam enthusiastically accepted.
Mekkam’s faith began to take center stage in his professional life at Sunrise, both on the court and as a dorm parent, working with students of all backgrounds.
“To be a good coach, you have to become a good leader, and I was put in positions where I could increase my leadership qualities and skills, my organization and my confidence,” Mekkahm said. “I learned how to love all of my players, one through 15, and deal with their problems.”
He credits one of his mentors, Sunrise superintendent Robert Linstead, and the faith-based environment for helping him grow deeper in his faith.
“God just grew my character there tremendously, which was a major stepping stone I needed before I went to Uzbekistan,” Mekkam said.
Service beyond the scoreboard
A different mentor presented Mekkam with an opportunity that proved to be the biggest challenge of his life to date.
“He asked me to go coach in Uzbekistan,” Mekkam said. “I kind of just laughed it off and was like, ‘Uzbeka what?’ I had never even heard of the country before.”
He flew nearly 7,000 miles to visit KIUT, and despite his mother’s initial hesitation, he felt a calling to stay. A few weeks after returning to the U.S., he decided to accept the invitation.
“(That visit) changed my perspective on things,” he said. “I want to be a light wherever I am and the biggest part of me moving from Sunrise to Uzbekistan was my faith.”
In Tashkent, Mekkam wears many hats. As head coach at the largest university in Central Asia, he is building a basketball culture from the ground up, organizing camps, clinics and university leagues. In his role as assistant to the vice rector, he helps manage international affairs and a growing study abroad program. He even teaches fifth through eighth grade English to students using books like “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt to spark discussions about mental health and character.
“I’ve been playing basketball since I was 4, and it taught me discipline as a kid,” Mekkam said. “Being able to provide this platform to kids and allow them to grow as human beings has been huge.”
For Mekkam, success is measured by a willingness to serve.
“I used to think that greatness was getting the biggest car, a whole lot of money and showing people what I have,” he said. “But in the Bible, Jesus says, ‘The greatest among you serve.’ There’s nothing greater in this life than putting people first, serving them and guiding them to light.”
His time at Newman also played a part in answering Jesus’s call to serve. The tight-knit community and friendships he formed inspire him to give all he can to others.
“The more you get to know Jesus, the more you want to be like him,” Mekkam said. “Serving is the most loving thing you can do. Being able to serve others in my professional work, but also getting to know him and understand what he wants from me with this life. … It’s motivated me to be the best person wherever it is that I’m planted.”
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