coach Alex Jensen of the Utah Jazz reacts to an officials call during the first half of their game against the Brooklyn Nets February 4, 2022 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
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Utah has hired former Utes star and current Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Alex Jensen as its new men’s basketball coach, as first reported by ESPN.
Jensen, 48, replaces Craig Smith, who was fired last month after a 15-12 season, 7-9 in the Big 12.
Jensen, who had the backing of influential boosters, played under former Utah coach Rick Majerus in the 1990s and later followed Majerus to Saint Louis as an assistant coach.
He later served as the head coach of the Canton Charge in the NBA G League and an assistant with the Utah Jazz before joining the Mavericks.
Jensen is the latest name to hop aboard the Coaching Carousel after Miami officially named Duke associate head coach [Jai Lucas](https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2025/03/06/ncaa-coaching-carousel-miami-officially-names-jai-lucas-new-coach/) its new head coach earlier Thursday.
Virginia and Florida State are among the other jobs that need to be filled.