A string of Alex Jensen highlights flashed onto the Huntsman Center’s video boards, while the 48-year-old head coach looked up from the podium.

With Jensen’s mouth ajar, memories from his Runnin’ Ute days filled his mind. This was the place where he earned respect from legendary head coach Rick Majerus. It’s where he helped lead the Runnin’ Utes to a 1998 runner-up finish in the national championship. It’s where he learned to love repping the U.’s logo on his chest.

But, Jensen is now the face of the program after being hired to replace Craig Smith on March 6. He’s tasked with leading Utah’s storied basketball program back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.

“I remember playing here, the history, especially the basketball history, it’s rich,” Jensen said in his first media appearance on Monday. “I don’t want to say this will be a continuation of the past. I think it’s a connection. But, I specifically approached this looking forward and facing forward to carry on the tradition.”

There’s no doubt that Jensen will bring a wealth of basketball experience to the Runnin’ Utes. He learned from Majerus as a Utah player and later as an assistant coach for him at Saint Louis. He then joined the NBA ranks, first becoming a head coach in the D-League, then an assistant with the Utah Jazz before ending his NBA tenure with the Dallas Mavericks.

All those experiences, and more, will help him lean into his first college head coaching gig.

Jensen also knows he’ll have to establish his own identity in Salt Lake City.

“The more coaches you’re around, I think that helps you with that,” Jensen said. “I realized today that I can’t be coach Majerus, and I have to find myself, and it can’t be the other way around. I think players and people react and respond to you being genuine.”

Upon being offered the job by Utah athletic director Mark Harlan, Jensen pondered returning to the Utes

Former Mavericks and now-Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic was traded. Jensen weighed the challenges that come with NIL and the transfer portal. He spoke with former Utah teammates, Harlan and more before reaching a decision.

Jensen described the days leading up to his decision as a “roller coaster.”

“I went back and forth,” Jensen said. “The timing was hard because we were going through some adverse adversity in Dallas, and I wanted to give them everything I had. I just tried to talk to everybody that’s involved. … I went back and forth many days and then, but I think at the end, it became clear that it was a good choice.”

The Runnin’ Utes also had to sell their own pitch to Jensen.

“It was so critical to have the Board of Trustees and president [Taylor Randall] involved,” Harlan said of convincing Jensen to take the job. “They participated in the process, which was great because we were able to [talk] afterwards. Like I said earlier, Alex asked some very thoughtful questions.

“… I don’t want someone to leave a great job without being completely candid with them. But, we talked about everything. We talked about revenue sharing, which will change a lot of things in the industry in July once again. I’ve had some donors call me, and they’re very excited.”

In the coming weeks, Jensen’s first challenge as head coach will be putting together a team and coaching staff.

He says he’ll be meticulous in his approach, finding both the right players and coaches that fit his mold.

“It’s going to be a lot of work,” Jensen said. “It’s hard finishing up in Dallas, but I’m going to do my due diligence to get a staff that understands, that knows that, because there’s a lot of work that needs to be done.”

Then, after that, Jensen will be tasked with leading his alma mater back to the postseason.

He did it as a player.

Now, he’ll have to find a way to do it as Utah’s head coach.

“This is going to be a tough, hard-nosed competitive team,” Jensen said. “We will make the fan base proud. That’s the one thing that I will strive to do and won’t cut corners on.

“This will be a team that [fans] will be proud of.”

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