Utah hires Alex Jensen to revitalize basketball program

Alex Jensen has been hired as the new basketball coach for the University of Utah. His appointment aims to reconnect the team with its past success, particularly during the era of Rick Majerus. Jensen is excited to return to his alma mater after spending 12 years as an assistant coach in the NBA. Jensen played for the Utes from 1994-2000 and was part of the team that reached the NCAA Championship game in 1998. He was known for his strong performance, scoring over 1,200 points during his college career. Athletic director Mark Harlan prioritized bringing Jensen back to help rebuild the men’s basketball program. Currently, Jensen is an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks. He plans to balance both roles until the NBA season concludes. Jensen feels it is important to finish his duties with the Mavericks, even as he aims to recruit a new coaching staff at Utah. The Utes have struggled recently, not making the NCAA Tournament since the 2015-16 season. Jensen’s experience in the NBA, where he helped develop players like Rudy Gobert, is expected to help Utah improve. He believes that his knowledge and care for players will be beneficial as he transitions to college coaching. Jensen's goal is to make Utah a consistent contender for the NCAA Tournament again. His hiring reflects a strategy similar to rival BYU's recent coaching choice, which also focused on player development. The Utah Utes are looking forward to a new chapter under his leadership.