Alex Jensen era begins with a win as Utah beats San Jose State in season opener

The Runnin’ Utes beat San Jose State to open the season.

(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah mens basketball head coach Alex Jensen on the set of Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff before Utah plays Texas Tech in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.

The Jon M. Huntsman Center went dark, as a string of clips flashed on the arena’s video board Monday night.

There was a nod to the Runnin’ Utes’ past in the images of the late, legendary coach Rick Majerus, and a look into the program’s future, as the video highlighted the team’s bevy of new transfers.

Bridging those two eras was Alex Jensen.

While the Utes team gathered around their new head coach, a Jensen soundbite played throughout the arena.

“We’re reaching into the past for the present,” he said in the clip.

Jensen took a moment to glance up at the 151-foot projection, a ceremonious introduction as he returned to his old stomping grounds. Then he quickly locked back into Utah’s game plan, pulling out his whiteboard, scribbling plays and communicating with his players.

Jensen never lost a game in the 56-year-old arena as a player. He had no intention of breaking that streak in his first official game as the Utes’ head man.

And by the end of the night, this Alex Jensen era had its first win, as the Runnin’ Utes pulled away from San Jose State for an 84-75 victory.

“Since I’ve been back, I think it’s been one continuous trip down memory lane,” Jensen said afterward. “A lot of good memories. I think it adds to my desire to win.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former Ute player Alex Jensen, right, alongside Athletic Director Mark Harlan, answers questions as he is formally introduced as new head coach of the Utah men’s basketball team at the Huntsman Center on Monday, March 17, 2025.

Utah by no means was perfect in Jensen’s first victory. The Spartans had a one-point lead with 9:14 remaining in the game before Jensen’s crew ultimately reclaimed the lead. The Utes stormed back thanks to a 23-point outing from junior Iowa transfer Seydou Traore.

On the sidelines, Jensen solemnly folded his arms as he moved up and down the court, studying every movement and set from his players. With 3:46 remaining until halftime, the 6-foot-7 head coach hollered at freshman guard Obomate Abbey to “come off the screen” so loud, you could hear his usually soft voice echo throughout the Huntsman Center.

Later in the game, the 49-year-old head coach opted to crouch down and coach up individual players like Terrence Brown, Keanu Dawes and others when he wasn’t focused on the game’s action.

“He’s obviously emphasizing the things we need to work on,” Brown said. “For me, as a point guard, he emphasizes me being patient, coming off ball screens and things like that.

“He just reminds me each time that I make a mistake, or even if I do good, he’ll say, ‘Hey, coming off this next time see this. Or maybe you have an opportunity to score here next time.’”

Four months ago, the Runnin’ Utes head coach was an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks, a year removed from a loss to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Then, Luka Doncic was traded. Then, Utah head coach Craig Smith was fired midseason. Jensen’s NBA team needed to start over and Jensen’s alma mater needed someone who could draw on nostalgia and history while preparing for future success.

Since landing back in Salt Lake City, Jensen has prioritized turning the Runnin’ Utes into an NBA factory. He hired former Sacramento Kings assistant general manager Wes Wilcox to become the program’s new general manager.

He’s also added assistant coaches like Raphael Chillious and Martin Schiller, who have years of developing NBA talent on their resumes.

That was on display in their first win over the Spartans.

“There’s plenty of teaching moments,” Jensen said. “I kind of don’t know where to start. There are things we talk about [all the time.] We talk about our absolutes. Like, who’s going to crash and who’s going to get back. And we slipped up on those a few times.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes forward Keanu Dawes (8) shoots over Arizona State Sun Devils guard Amier Ali (5), in Big 12 basketball action between the Utah Utes and the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Jon M. Huntsman center in Salt Lake City, on Saturday, Mar 1, 2025.

“But definitely developmental here, and we’ve come a long way just in the last three weeks.”

Clearly, Utah still has a long way before these Utes look anything like the Utes of Jensen’s glory days.

But starting out 1-0 is a step in the right direction.

“He was undefeated here as a player,” Brown said. “I knew the first win [was going to mean] a lot to him, so it obviously meant a lot to us. … It was all a full-circle moment, us getting our first wins all together.”

Jensen’s players later gave him the game ball in the locker room.

For now, Jensen can still brag that he’s undefeated in the Huntsman Center — both as a coach and a player.

And maybe this is just the start of many wins to come in the Alex Jensen era.

“I know how special this place is,” Jensen said. “And I know how special it can be.”