Salt Lake Metropolis – The hiring of Alex Jensen reconnects Utah To a profitable previous wherein the UTES need to exploit whereas reconstructing their male basketball program and, hopefully, grow to be extra aggressive within the Large 12 convention.
Jensen was introduced on Monday as coach of Utah, returning to his Alma Mater after spending a dozen seasons as an assistant NBA coach. Jensen spent 4 seasons with the UTES, enjoying underneath Rick Majerus in 1994-1995 and from 1997-2000 after a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of the Holy Days.
“I known as donors and they’re very excited,” stated Utah sports activities director Mark Harlan. “They bear in mind Alex and they’re actually excited by him. I perceive.”
Harlan made Jensen appeal to to Utah his foremost precedence throughout a short seek for the substitute of Craig Smith. Jensen was beforehand a number one candidate for the place 4 years in the past, earlier than Smith left Utah state to interchange Larry Krystkowiak. He turned the very best candidate this time when Smith was dismissed on the finish of February.
Jensen will divide time between the Dallas MavericksThe place he’s presently assistant underneath Jason Kidd and Utah till the tip of the season for Mavs.
“I knew it might be tough, however I felt like I wanted to complete the season in Dallas,” stated Jensen. “They had been nice and I do not assume they’d care if I left, however I simply assume it is the appropriate factor to do, to complete it there, which is hiring workers and doing a little bit tougher.”
Jensen is a connection to a time when Utah emerged as a regional basketball energy. He was a starter for the UTES after they reached the championship match of the 1998 NCAA match. Jensen totaled 1,279 factors and 896 rebounds in 4 seasons, profitable the honors of the primary All-MWC staff as a senior whereas making a mean of 13.1 factors, 7.5 rebounds and three.1 assists.
That is the primary job of Jensen coach within the ranks of the faculty since he was an assistant coach underneath an higher improve in Saint Louis from 2007 to 11.
What he realized from Majerus all the time influences Jensen’s strategy to basketball a few years later.
“The road that I all the time say with the coach Majerus – and we’re kidding on this topic – is that he ruins the sport for you since you be taught that it’s tough to observe a match with out separating it,” stated Jensen. “There’s a genius and I had the prospect to play for him and begin my profession as a coach (with him) since you get your basketball in basketball.”
The expertise of the NBA of Jensen has grow to be a key gross sales argument for UTAH after the UTES underwent a turbulent first season on the Large 12 convention. He spent a dozen seasons as an assistant NBA coach. Jensen was with the Utah jazz For a decade, spending a big a part of this time as the primary assistant of Quin Snyder, earlier than becoming a member of the Mavericks and Kidd in 2023.
Utah follows an analogous path to compete with Byu, who employed Kevin Younger away from Phoenix Suns A 12 months in the past. Jensen, like Younger, has the repute of excelling within the growth of gamers. He performed a central function by serving to Rudy Gobert Go from Backup Middle to an All-Star NBA and Elite Defender throughout his stick with jazz.
Jensen will depend on what he has realized as an assistant to the NBA to information how he approaches the development of a faculty program.
“The college sport, I feel, turns into an increasing number of skilled, however I feel most gamers are the identical,” stated Jensen. “They need to know when you care and if you already know what you might be speaking about. I used to be in a position to undergo this (NBA expertise) and I feel it’s going to assist me right here.”
One of many foremost goals of Jensen will likely be to assist Utah frequently attain the NCAA match. Utah has not performed within the NCAA match for the reason that 2015-16 season and has solely appeared within the 4 seasons of Smith in cost.
