Veteran NBA assistant coach Alex Jensen, who is currently employed by the Mavericks, has agreed to a contract to become the new men’s head coach at the University of Utah, sources tell Jeff Borzello and Pete Thamel of ESPN.
Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported a couple days ago that Jensen had emerged as one of the top candidates for the school’s head coaching vacancy. He will replace Craig Smith, who was fired last month after nearly four seasons at the helm.
Jensen, 46, is a Utah native who starred in college for the Utes, having been named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year back in 1999/2000. He was a starter for the team that advanced to the final of the 1998 NCAA Tournament, ultimately losing to Kentucky.
Jensen got his first coaching job under his former head coach, Rick Majerus, at the University of Saint Louis. After four seasons with the Billikens, Jensen transitioned to the NBA, spending 10 years as an assistant with the Jazz. He has been with the Mavericks since 2023.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link), Jensen is “well-liked” by the Mavericks and will likely have an opportunity to finish out the ’24/25 season in Dallas. Either way, Jensen will be joining the Utes at some point in the near future.
luka gone, kyrie out
even the coaches dont want anything to do with dallas anymore
they’d rather coach college than stay with mavs
This probably has alot more to do with him going to school there
And the chance to be a head coach and not an assistant.
Get out while you can.
I’m glad he left!
3rd assistant to leave since Luka trade.
They have no commitment to success at this point.
No commitment from ownership either. I’d get out to.
Jensen may have said “No” if Dallas was worth anything. Cuban needs to sell his stake and get his legacy out of that dumpster fire