Salt Lake Metropolis – The hiring of Alex Jensen reconnects Utah To a profitable previous through which the UTES wish to exploit whereas reconstructing their male basketball program and, hopefully, turn out to be extra aggressive within the Massive 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, taking part in beneath 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 referred to 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 alternative 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 at the moment assistant beneath Jason Kidd and Utah till the top of the season for Mavs.
“I knew it will be troublesome, however I felt like I wanted to complete the season in Dallas,” stated Jensen. “They had been nice and I do not suppose they’d care if I left, however I simply suppose it is the proper factor to do, to complete it there, which is hiring workers and doing a little bit harder.”
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 crew as a senior whereas making a median 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 beneath an higher enhance 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 study that it’s troublesome to look at a match with out separating it,” stated Jensen. “There’s a genius and I had the possibility 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 turn out to be a key gross sales argument for UTAH after the UTES underwent a turbulent first season on the Massive 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 principle assistant of Quin Snyder, earlier than becoming a member of the Mavericks and Kidd in 2023.
Utah follows the same path to compete with Byu, who employed Kevin Younger away from Phoenix Suns A yr in the past. Jensen, like Younger, has the fame of excelling within the growth of gamers. He performed a central position 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 school program.
“The college recreation, I believe, turns into an increasing number of skilled, however I believe most gamers are the identical,” stated Jensen. “They wish to know when you care and if what you’re speaking about. I used to be in a position to undergo this (NBA expertise) and I believe it’ll assist me right here.”
One of many foremost aims of Jensen will probably be to assist Utah usually 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.
