KANSAS CITY — For new Utah head coach Alex Jensen, the transition from the NBA back to college basketball isn’t just about adapting to a different level — it’s about re-establishing a proud basketball program in a very competitive Big 12 Conference.
And judging from his remarks at Big 12 Media Days, that starts with player development, discipline, and a deep respect for the grind of this league.
Alex Jensen: “There’s not a better basketball conference than the Big 12”
If Jensen needed a reminder of what kind of league he was walking into, he didn’t get it — because he already knew.
“I knew it before I came, but since I’ve been here, I’ve realized — and I’m not just saying it because we’re in the Big 12 — there’s not a better basketball conference than the Big 12,” he said.
Jensen, who spent a decade coaching alongside Jason Kidd and Quin Snyder in the NBA, understands the value of coaching and basketball intelligence. And the Big 12 lineup of head coaches is a masterclass of coaching.
“There are so many great coaches in this league, you need a great coach to win in the Big 12. Then, administrative support is probably the next biggest thing in determining your success.”
– Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson
Headlining the league are Bill Self, Kelvin Sampson, and Scott Drew as the grizzled veterans of the league. Where Grant McCasland, T.J. Otzelberger, Tommy Lloyd, and Kevin Young are promising up-and-comers.
“The coaching is great, and I’m actually excited because there’s a learning curve for me, and there’s some great coaches to learn from,” Jensen added. “I had a brief conversation with Kelvin Sampson, and what he’s done in Houston — in his 13 years — not a traditional powerhouse, but I admire that and I’m curious about how he went about it.”
That curiosity — part humility, part hunger — might be Jensen’s most valuable asset as he begins his first year in the Big 12.
“There are a lot of good coaches that build programs and run programs for a long time,” he said. “And that’s what we’re trying to do — be good for a long time, not just a year or two.”
Alex Jensen brings to Utah NBA experience, grounded in player development
“Coming from the NBA, I’ve been a part of a lot of different player development plans,” Jensen said. “It’s a big thing — a lot of teams have four or five player development coaches.”
Jensen and his staff implemented a detailed, data-driven player development system — blending the analytics precision of the pros with the relationship-centered approach of college ball.
“The first week I got there, we didn’t do any basketball, it was all measuring, testing, and weight room.”
That opening week told his players everything they needed to know about how this era of Utah Basketball would be built: from the ground up.
Sights from @Big12Conference Men's Basketball Media Day via @AnnaFuder! 📸
🔗 https://t.co/L0OD4p6ewI#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/6Z1X9Fql4d
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) October 22, 2025
“We spent a lot of time on it, and pretty thorough,” Jensen said. “And it’s actually, in the few short months we’ve been here, everybody’s made improvements.”
The objective is clear: this is no quick-fix rebuild. Jensen is engineering a developmental culture — one that measures, teaches, and builds consistency brick by brick.
At the root of it all, Jensen wants players who simply “like to play basketball”
Asked about his foundational principles, Jensen didn’t point to recruiting rankings or transfer lists. Instead, he emphasized something simpler — but harder to fake.
“It’s interesting because we prioritize a few certain things,” he said. “This might sound like a simple thing, but the one thing is players they have like to play basketball.”
Since his return to Utah — the school where he once starred under Rick Majerus — Jensen has leaned into that old-school ethos. Passion and persistence over hype and stars.
“Go back to the teams that have had success at Utah,” he said. “They’ve been teams that not necessarily had many top-50 or top-100 players. It’s always been guys that wanted to come, who like to play, wanted to get better, and then you see where that takes you.”
For Jensen, that’s the foundation of sustained success. Players who enjoy the grind, that want to get better, and do things the right way.
“I think they have to like the game and want to get better and realize that they need to get better,” he said.
Jensen isn’t promising an instant turnaround. He’s promising a process — one built on structure, work, and authenticity.
In a league loaded with elite programs and proven coaches, Utah’s rookie head coach sounds neither intimidated nor impatient. He sounds like a coach intent on building something that lasts.
Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.
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