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Alex Jensen Named 17th Head Coach of Runnin’ Utes Basketball Program
3/6/2025 3:55 PM | Men's Basketball
Veteran coach and Utah Athletics Hall of Famer coming back to Salt Lake City and the U
SALT LAKE CITY – Alex Jensen is coming home. The Utah Athletics Hall of Famer and starter on the Runnin' Utes 1998 Final Four team has been named the 17th head coach of Utah's men's basketball program, Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan announced today. Terms of the multi-year deal were not announced.
Jensen is currently in his second season as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks after serving 10 years on the Utah Jazz coaching staff. He began his coaching career in 2007 at St. Louis University on the staff of his former Runnin' Utes coach Rick Majerus, a position he held for four seasons before becoming head coach of the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League in 2011. Jensen is in his 18th year coaching basketball at the collegiate and professional levels, and has international coaching experience with USA Basketball and the German National Team.
"This is an exciting day for our men's basketball program and for the University of Utah community, as Alex Jensen officially returns to Salt Lake City as our new head coach," Harlan said. "Alex brings with him tremendous experience coaching at the collegiate, NBA and international levels, and is widely-respected for his ability to develop players and teach the game of basketball. Alex has a vision and a plan for leading the Runnin' Utes basketball program back among the nation's elite, and I am confident that he will elevate our program and reignite the passion of our fan base along the way. I'd also like to thank President Randall and the Board of Trustees for their support through this process. It's exciting to welcome back a beloved figure in Runnin' Utes basketball history, as well as his family!"
A 2015 inductee to the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame, Jensen played a key role on one of the most beloved teams among all sports in the storied history of the University of Utah. Utah made a run to the NCAA Championship game in 1998, and compiled a record of 30-4, with Jensen earning All-West Region honors during the NCAA Tournament.
"My basketball journey has been filled with so many people who have helped shape me as a coach and as a person, ultimately guiding me to this opportunity to lead the Runnin' Utes basketball program," said Jensen. "I'm thankful for all of the great mentors I've had along the way as I embark on this next step to lead Utah Basketball. This is an exciting chapter for my family and me, and I'm looking forward to returning to a place that has meant so much to me. I can't wait to get to work with our student athletes, coaches and the University as we move forward to achieve our goals. I want to thank University of Utah President Taylor Randall, Athletics Director Mark Harlan and the University of Utah Board of Trustees for their faith in me as we move into the future of Utah basketball."
In his current role with the Mavericks, Jensen has continued to cement his reputation as an elite developer of talent with an exceptional ability to strategize and teach. He was hired by the Mavericks in July 2023 after spending the 2013-14 through 2022-23 seasons back in Salt Lake City with the Utah Jazz. Among the players who blossomed under Jensen's tutelage with the Jazz was three-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. As a rookie, Gobert averaged 2.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, and improved those numbers to 8.4 and 9.5, respectively, by his second season, en route to career averages of 12.6 and 11.7 over 12 NBA seasons.
In the 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Jensen coached the D-League Select Team to a 4-1 record against NBA team entries and advanced them to the quarterfinals of the inaugural summer league tournament. He also was awarded the D-League Coach of the Year in 2013 after leading the Charge to the East Division title with the league's No. 1 scoring defense.
Jensen also spent time as a court coach at the 2018 USA Men's National Team minicamp in advance of the 2018 FIBA World Cup, and in 2022 served as head coach of the 2022 USA Basketball AmeriCup team.
Jensen, who hails from Centerville, was Utah's Mr. Basketball in 1994 as a senior at Viewmont High School. He led Viewmont to a state championship in his junior year.
Following his freshman season at Utah in 1994-95, he went on a two-year mission. Upon his return, Jensen earned a spot in the starting lineup for the 1997-98 season and helped lead the Utes to one of the best years in school history with a run to the Final Four and an appearance in the NCAA Championship game.
As a junior, Jensen took another big step in his development, earning All-Western Athletic Conference honors and being named to the WAC All-Defensive Team. He averaged 12.1 points and 7.6 rebounds, and was the 1999 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament MVP, as he led the Utes back to the NCAA Tournament.
Jensen capped his senior season in 1999-2000 by winning the first Mountain West Conference Player of the Year award in the league's inaugural season. He averaged 13.1 points and 7.5 rebounds that season and finished with 1,279 points and 896 rebounds in his college career. Jensen was part of four conference championship teams and made four trips to the NCAA tournament in his time with the Runnin' Utes.
After his stellar collegiate playing career at the U, Jensen played seven professional seasons in Turkey, Spain and Japan, and one season with the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA. The Sun Kings won the 2003 CBA championship, and Jensen earned all-defensive team honors. While playing in Europe, Jensen was named All-FIBA Europe Cup Defender of the Year in 2004 and was named to the All-FIBA Europe Cup First Team.
Jensen earned his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Utah's David Eccles School of Business. He and his wife Natalie are the parents of three daughters.
Fans seeking to reserve season tickets, or to contribute to the men's basketball program, can find more information here.
"We are very happy for Alex and his family on this opportunity for him to return to Utah and lead their basketball program. He's a perfect fit for the job, not only as a great teacher of the game, but also as someone already integrated into the Utes program from his Hall-of-Fame career there as a collegiate athlete. Alex has great skill and extensive experience developing young players, and he's bringing a wealth of basketball knowledge back to his alma mater. We're grateful for Alex's time in Dallas and his contributions to the Mavericks coaching staff, but we are excited to watch him begin this next chapter in his career. Utah is getting a good one."
Jason Kidd
Dallas Mavericks Head Coach
"Alex will be a phenomenal leader for the Utah basketball program. He has vast experience at every level and when you combine that with his integrity and character, he is the perfect coach to lead the student athletes at the University of Utah. I couldn't be happier for him."
"I was happy for him. It's like a full-circle moment for him. He played there when he was younger, and him coming back home, with his family—it's like family to me too, so it's really exciting."
He's really competitive. That's something that people really don't know about him, but he's really competitive. And I love that he was always honest with me. He wasn't just telling me what I wanted to hear, he was always trying to push me the right way and help me get better. My rookie year was his rookie year in the NBA, and we started building that relationship. In a way, we came up together. I started getting opportunities and making a name for myself, and he started to become more prominent on Quin's coaching staff. I spend my first Thanksgiving at his house, and that was my first time celebrating it. I'm happy for him. He was telling me the stories about how he met his wife, their first dates, I was hearing all about it. It was cool to see everything come to fruition. I have a lot of love for them."
It's a new era for college basketball, and I think Alex really understands that aspect of the game, and outside of the game. He will be a great teacher for these young men to teach them good values. I think he's going to be a great guide, individually, for those kids, and I'm excited to see how he's going to lead this team. That's a new challenge for him, and hopefully I'll get to come and watch a couple of times."
"Alex Jensen was the ultimate competitor as a Ute player. In many ways, he was Rick Majerus' brain on the court. Given his vast NBA coaching experience and his knowledge of Utah basketball, this is a great fit."
"Alex Jensen is a tremendous hire for Utah basketball. As a former Ute and someone who has worked alongside him for years, I can say with confidence that he embodies everything you'd want in a head coach-leadership, intelligence, and an incredible work ethic. He has a deep understanding of the game and a genuine ability to connect with and develop his players.
His return to Utah is not just a win for the program but for the entire community. He knows what it takes to compete at the highest level and will bring a culture of discipline, toughness, and accountability. I have no doubt he'll make an immediate impact and set the foundation for long-term success."
"I think it's a great opportunity for Alex. I've been around him since our days in Utah, and I know they've wanted him for a long time. I think it's a great opportunity for him and his family to go back to where he played, and hopefully lead Utah back to where they were when he played there. Alex always had the ability to be a head coach and wanted to get that opportunity. Now he gets it, and it's well deserved."
Dante´ Exum
Dallas Mavericks Guard
"Alex Jensen is Utah Basketball. He was a major part of the Utes' run in the 1990s under Rick Majerus and he'll be a major part of this program's transition into the new landscape of college basketball."
"Alex Jensen is a home run hire for Utah. I covered the Utes throughout the '90s while covering the WAC in Albuquerque and Fresno. I saw what Utah basketball could be under the late Rick Majerus' leadership. And there was no player who defined Utah basketball more than Jensen. He was the ultimate Ute. His basketball IQ, energy, passion on every possession and attention to detail was on display in every game. The Huntsman Center was one of the toughest road environments in the WAC. There's no reason why it can't get back to that atmosphere under Jensen's leadership. Jensen is the right coach to lead Utah into this new era in the Big 12."
"Some partnerships are perfect fits with perfect timing!
Alex being a local high school legend, an all-time great player at the University of Utah, having a big role with the Utah Jazz organization for a decade, and being a successful head coach in the G-League gives him an outstanding background to lead the Utes.
Alex was critical in Rudy Gobert's development and helped create one the NBA's best defenses on a multi-year basis. It was those foundational elements which allowed us to achieve success for close to a decade.
I always felt like Alex being a very good defender in a defensive-first program led by Coach Majerus set him up well to have proven credibility defensively. I am confident the Ute fans will see tough, no-nonsense, and highly organized defenses in the coming seasons.
Simply put, it is harder than ever to build a championship level defense. Alex knows how to construct a team from A-to-Z that can guard!
We wish Alex, his family, and the Utes' program the best moving forward."
Jensen is currently in his second season as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks after serving 10 years on the Utah Jazz coaching staff. He began his coaching career in 2007 at St. Louis University on the staff of his former Runnin' Utes coach Rick Majerus, a position he held for four seasons before becoming head coach of the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League in 2011. Jensen is in his 18th year coaching basketball at the collegiate and professional levels, and has international coaching experience with USA Basketball and the German National Team.
"This is an exciting day for our men's basketball program and for the University of Utah community, as Alex Jensen officially returns to Salt Lake City as our new head coach," Harlan said. "Alex brings with him tremendous experience coaching at the collegiate, NBA and international levels, and is widely-respected for his ability to develop players and teach the game of basketball. Alex has a vision and a plan for leading the Runnin' Utes basketball program back among the nation's elite, and I am confident that he will elevate our program and reignite the passion of our fan base along the way. I'd also like to thank President Randall and the Board of Trustees for their support through this process. It's exciting to welcome back a beloved figure in Runnin' Utes basketball history, as well as his family!"
A 2015 inductee to the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame, Jensen played a key role on one of the most beloved teams among all sports in the storied history of the University of Utah. Utah made a run to the NCAA Championship game in 1998, and compiled a record of 30-4, with Jensen earning All-West Region honors during the NCAA Tournament.
"My basketball journey has been filled with so many people who have helped shape me as a coach and as a person, ultimately guiding me to this opportunity to lead the Runnin' Utes basketball program," said Jensen. "I'm thankful for all of the great mentors I've had along the way as I embark on this next step to lead Utah Basketball. This is an exciting chapter for my family and me, and I'm looking forward to returning to a place that has meant so much to me. I can't wait to get to work with our student athletes, coaches and the University as we move forward to achieve our goals. I want to thank University of Utah President Taylor Randall, Athletics Director Mark Harlan and the University of Utah Board of Trustees for their faith in me as we move into the future of Utah basketball."
In his current role with the Mavericks, Jensen has continued to cement his reputation as an elite developer of talent with an exceptional ability to strategize and teach. He was hired by the Mavericks in July 2023 after spending the 2013-14 through 2022-23 seasons back in Salt Lake City with the Utah Jazz. Among the players who blossomed under Jensen's tutelage with the Jazz was three-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. As a rookie, Gobert averaged 2.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, and improved those numbers to 8.4 and 9.5, respectively, by his second season, en route to career averages of 12.6 and 11.7 over 12 NBA seasons.
In the 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Jensen coached the D-League Select Team to a 4-1 record against NBA team entries and advanced them to the quarterfinals of the inaugural summer league tournament. He also was awarded the D-League Coach of the Year in 2013 after leading the Charge to the East Division title with the league's No. 1 scoring defense.
Jensen also spent time as a court coach at the 2018 USA Men's National Team minicamp in advance of the 2018 FIBA World Cup, and in 2022 served as head coach of the 2022 USA Basketball AmeriCup team.
Jensen, who hails from Centerville, was Utah's Mr. Basketball in 1994 as a senior at Viewmont High School. He led Viewmont to a state championship in his junior year.
Following his freshman season at Utah in 1994-95, he went on a two-year mission. Upon his return, Jensen earned a spot in the starting lineup for the 1997-98 season and helped lead the Utes to one of the best years in school history with a run to the Final Four and an appearance in the NCAA Championship game.
As a junior, Jensen took another big step in his development, earning All-Western Athletic Conference honors and being named to the WAC All-Defensive Team. He averaged 12.1 points and 7.6 rebounds, and was the 1999 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament MVP, as he led the Utes back to the NCAA Tournament.
Jensen capped his senior season in 1999-2000 by winning the first Mountain West Conference Player of the Year award in the league's inaugural season. He averaged 13.1 points and 7.5 rebounds that season and finished with 1,279 points and 896 rebounds in his college career. Jensen was part of four conference championship teams and made four trips to the NCAA tournament in his time with the Runnin' Utes.
After his stellar collegiate playing career at the U, Jensen played seven professional seasons in Turkey, Spain and Japan, and one season with the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA. The Sun Kings won the 2003 CBA championship, and Jensen earned all-defensive team honors. While playing in Europe, Jensen was named All-FIBA Europe Cup Defender of the Year in 2004 and was named to the All-FIBA Europe Cup First Team.
Jensen earned his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Utah's David Eccles School of Business. He and his wife Natalie are the parents of three daughters.
Fans seeking to reserve season tickets, or to contribute to the men's basketball program, can find more information here.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ALEX JENSEN
"We are very happy for Alex and his family on this opportunity for him to return to Utah and lead their basketball program. He's a perfect fit for the job, not only as a great teacher of the game, but also as someone already integrated into the Utes program from his Hall-of-Fame career there as a collegiate athlete. Alex has great skill and extensive experience developing young players, and he's bringing a wealth of basketball knowledge back to his alma mater. We're grateful for Alex's time in Dallas and his contributions to the Mavericks coaching staff, but we are excited to watch him begin this next chapter in his career. Utah is getting a good one."
Jason Kidd
Dallas Mavericks Head Coach
"Alex will be a phenomenal leader for the Utah basketball program. He has vast experience at every level and when you combine that with his integrity and character, he is the perfect coach to lead the student athletes at the University of Utah. I couldn't be happier for him."
Quin Snyder
Atlanta Hawks Head Coach
Atlanta Hawks Head Coach
"I was happy for him. It's like a full-circle moment for him. He played there when he was younger, and him coming back home, with his family—it's like family to me too, so it's really exciting."
He's really competitive. That's something that people really don't know about him, but he's really competitive. And I love that he was always honest with me. He wasn't just telling me what I wanted to hear, he was always trying to push me the right way and help me get better. My rookie year was his rookie year in the NBA, and we started building that relationship. In a way, we came up together. I started getting opportunities and making a name for myself, and he started to become more prominent on Quin's coaching staff. I spend my first Thanksgiving at his house, and that was my first time celebrating it. I'm happy for him. He was telling me the stories about how he met his wife, their first dates, I was hearing all about it. It was cool to see everything come to fruition. I have a lot of love for them."
It's a new era for college basketball, and I think Alex really understands that aspect of the game, and outside of the game. He will be a great teacher for these young men to teach them good values. I think he's going to be a great guide, individually, for those kids, and I'm excited to see how he's going to lead this team. That's a new challenge for him, and hopefully I'll get to come and watch a couple of times."
Rudy Gobert
Minnesota Timberwolves Center
Minnesota Timberwolves Center
"Alex Jensen was the ultimate competitor as a Ute player. In many ways, he was Rick Majerus' brain on the court. Given his vast NBA coaching experience and his knowledge of Utah basketball, this is a great fit."
Fran Fraschilla
ESPN Basketball Analyst
ESPN Basketball Analyst
"Alex Jensen is a tremendous hire for Utah basketball. As a former Ute and someone who has worked alongside him for years, I can say with confidence that he embodies everything you'd want in a head coach-leadership, intelligence, and an incredible work ethic. He has a deep understanding of the game and a genuine ability to connect with and develop his players.
His return to Utah is not just a win for the program but for the entire community. He knows what it takes to compete at the highest level and will bring a culture of discipline, toughness, and accountability. I have no doubt he'll make an immediate impact and set the foundation for long-term success."
Johnnie Bryant
Cleveland Cavaliers Associate Head Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers Associate Head Coach
"I think it's a great opportunity for Alex. I've been around him since our days in Utah, and I know they've wanted him for a long time. I think it's a great opportunity for him and his family to go back to where he played, and hopefully lead Utah back to where they were when he played there. Alex always had the ability to be a head coach and wanted to get that opportunity. Now he gets it, and it's well deserved."
Dante´ Exum
Dallas Mavericks Guard
"Alex Jensen is Utah Basketball. He was a major part of the Utes' run in the 1990s under Rick Majerus and he'll be a major part of this program's transition into the new landscape of college basketball."
Jon Rothstein
CBS Sports
CBS Sports
"Alex Jensen is a home run hire for Utah. I covered the Utes throughout the '90s while covering the WAC in Albuquerque and Fresno. I saw what Utah basketball could be under the late Rick Majerus' leadership. And there was no player who defined Utah basketball more than Jensen. He was the ultimate Ute. His basketball IQ, energy, passion on every possession and attention to detail was on display in every game. The Huntsman Center was one of the toughest road environments in the WAC. There's no reason why it can't get back to that atmosphere under Jensen's leadership. Jensen is the right coach to lead Utah into this new era in the Big 12."
Andy Katz
NCAA.com / TNT Sports
NCAA.com / TNT Sports
"Some partnerships are perfect fits with perfect timing!
Alex being a local high school legend, an all-time great player at the University of Utah, having a big role with the Utah Jazz organization for a decade, and being a successful head coach in the G-League gives him an outstanding background to lead the Utes.
Alex was critical in Rudy Gobert's development and helped create one the NBA's best defenses on a multi-year basis. It was those foundational elements which allowed us to achieve success for close to a decade.
I always felt like Alex being a very good defender in a defensive-first program led by Coach Majerus set him up well to have proven credibility defensively. I am confident the Ute fans will see tough, no-nonsense, and highly organized defenses in the coming seasons.
Simply put, it is harder than ever to build a championship level defense. Alex knows how to construct a team from A-to-Z that can guard!
We wish Alex, his family, and the Utes' program the best moving forward."
Dennis Lindsey
Detroit Pistons Senior VP of Basketball Operations
Detroit Pistons Senior VP of Basketball Operations
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