While many thought that former Utah great Andre Miller would be the surefire choice for the assistant coach spot, Jensen went another route, hiring one of the best talent developers in the game, Raphael Chillious. Former NBA Star Isaiah Thomas praised the hire, saying, "Amazing hire! One of my favorites."

Jensen is set to make at least $3.6 million his first year as Utah’s coach, a $1.3 million increase over his predecessor.

The Runnin’ Utes legend brings a thoughtful, thorough approach to being the 17th head coach in Utah program history.

The University of Utah will pay new Runnin’ Utes head coach Alex Jensen at least $3.6 million next season with an opportunity for another $750,000 in bonuses. Jensen’s contract runs from March 17, 2025, to March 31, 2031. The Salt Lake Tribune obtained a copy of the employment agreement through a public records request.

New Utah basketball coach Alex Jensen has reached out to the NBA to fill another key role on his staff. Jensen hired Sacramento Kings assistant general manager

Wilcox then was the Cavaliers’ director of player personnel for two years before his first GM experience, with the NBA D League’s Canton Charge. He worked alongside Jensen in Canton, hiring him as the head coach of the Charge. In Jensen’s final season as the Charge’s head coach, he was named the D League Coach of the Year.

The hiring of Alex Jensen reconnects Utah to a successful past that the Utes want to tap into while rebuilding their men’s basketball program and, hopefully, becoming more competitive in the Big 12 Conference.

What will Alex Jensen bring as Utah's head coach? "A tough, hard-nosed competitive team," Jensen said on Monday:

The Utes have hired Dallas Mavericks assistant Alex Jensen, a starter on Utah’s 1998 Final Four team, as their next head coach, the university announced Thursday.