Alex Jensen returned home to his alma mater and was named the 17th head coach in Utah men’s basketball history on March 6, 2025. He was formally introduced on March 17 in front of the Runnin’ Ute faithful on the same court he graced as a player (1994-95, 97-00).
 
Jensen returns to his home state of Utah and Salt Lake City after spending the last two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks (2023-25) on Jason Kidd’s 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. He was then named NBA D-League Coach of the Year just his second season at the helm in 2013.
 
Jensen returned to his home state and joined the Utah Jazz coaching staff in 2013 for 10 seasons. In his first year with the Jazz, he led the D-League Select Team to a 4-1 record against NBA team entries and advanced them to the quarterfinals of the inaugural NBA Summer League Tournament in Las Vegas.
 
During his time in SLC, the Jazz made six-consecutive NBA Playoff appearances (2016-22). Jensen, who is widely known around the league as an elite developer, helped Rudy Gobert garner three NBA All-Star selections on top of being named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year three out of four years (2018, 19, 21). 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.
 
He got his first taste of international competition in 2015, when he was named an assistant coach on Chris Fleming’s staff with the German National Team. He was later named the head coach for Team USA at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup.
 
Jensen departed the Utah Jazz after a decade and joined the Dallas Mavericks as an assistant coach under hall of famer and NBA Champion Jason Kidd in 2023 before returning home to become the 17th head coach at his alma mater in March of 2025.
 
As a player Jensen signed on to play with legendary head coach Rick Majerus with much fanfare after being named Utah’s Mr. Basketball his senior year at Viewmont High School (1994) and led them to a state championship as a junior. He claimed multiple accolades his senior year including: Gatorade Player of the Year by USA Today, Deseret News 5A Player of the Year, Salt Lake Tribune Player of the Year, first-team all-state and honorable mention All-America.
 
Jensen’s collegiate career saw much success with him averaging 9.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists with a .532 shooting clip – including a .413 shooting-percentage from beyond the arc. He currently sits at No. 26 all-time in scoring at Utah with 1,279 career points heading into the 2025-26 season. He also concluded his career with 896 rebounds, 348 assists and 111 steals.
 
After his freshman year (1994-95), Jensen went on a two-year mission in England before returning to the Runnin’ Utes in 1997. Before the start of the 1997-98 campaign, Jensen played on the NIT All-Star team that toured Japan. Jensen didn’t skip a beat after returning from a two-year mission and started all 34 games for the Runnin’ Utes 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 was 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. 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 (2000-07) 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 bachelors of science degree in finance from Utah's David Eccles School of Business in 2000. He and his wife Natalie are the parents of three daughters.