SALT LAKE CITY – Alex Jensen has taken his time laying the foundation of his Runnin’ Utes program. He’s made impressive staff additions, welcomed a solid first collection of players, and is ready for the next phase of his takeover.
With a blend of seasoned experience, dynamic energy, and deep basketball knowledge, Jensen and his new staff have been hard at work laying the foundation of their rebuilding efforts.
At the Big 12 spring meetings, Jensen spoke with KSL Sports about his initial time with the program.
Alex Jensen looking forward to the next phase with Utah basketball
“It’s been good, that’s kind of been the fun part of it for me, is transitioning and learning,” Alex Jensen shared with KSL Sports at last week’s Big 12 spring meetings.
Coming to the college level after a lengthy stay in the NBA has been a unique opportunity and period of adjustment for Jensen.
“Since I took the job, I have to remind myself most days to take my time, do it right, and not feel rushed,” Jensen shared. “Whether building my staff or the roster, I feel we’ve done a good job with that.”
Jensen made key hires early on to help lead the charge on recruiting and roster construction. Now, with the auxiliary staff additions Utah announced last week, Jensen will start to turn more of his focus to the next phase of his tenure—practice.
“It’s funny because I haven’t been able to get to the actual basketball part of it yet, but I am really excited about it because you get more practice than you do in the NBA,” Jensen shared. “In June, we’re getting our guys in, and we’ll slowly work into it, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
“It’s kind of just getting—you know, I hate to use the word ‘culture’ but we’re just getting everything set up,” Jensen shared. “We have most of the people in place. Getting organized, with everybody on the same page—that takes time, it’s not going to be perfect right away but I’m looking forward to it.”
With only a few holdovers from last season’s roster, recruiting was a big undertaking for Jensen and his staff. Utah hit the transfer portal and secured seven additions. And Jensen made it a point to find players who he felt genuinely wanted to be at Utah to help rebuild the program.
“I think it worked out this way with my staff and players—I wanted guys that genuinely want to be here,” Jensen shared. “I think we did a good job of sharing our vision, our goals, what it’s going to be like, and I think we did a good job of being authentic and finding guys that wanted to come.”
“The thing I’ve wanted—I don’t want a new team every year, I think continuity at any level is underrated,” Jensen shared. “This first year is going to be a bit different than the years to come, I think most of the guys we’ve got have multiple years of eligibility left, and I think they’re goals align with what we were looking for.”
There is still work to be done with the current roster, exactly how much depends on the approval of the House settlement. However, Jensen and his staff have seemingly built a solid foundation roster-wise, one which they hope to build upon.
Utah basketball’s new staff members
Director of Operations – Victoria Sun
Announced on May 28, Victoria Sun joins the Utes following six impactful years as the business manager for basketball at IMG Academy in Florida. A Syracuse University alum, she first made her mark as an award-winning sports journalist, contributing to major outlets like the Associated Press and Los Angeles Times from 1997 to 2011.
Sun later transitioned to the operations side of the sport, where she led the inaugural NCAA College Basketball Academy and contributed to programs at Eastern Michigan, Florida State, and CSUN. Her blend of media savvy and operational expertise brings a unique edge to Utah’s front office.
Utah’s Director of Men’s Basketball Sports Performance – Eric Schork
Just one day later, Utah named Eric Schork as Director of Sports Performance. Notably, his connection with Jensen dates back to their days under Rick Majerus at Saint Louis University.
Schork comes from Snow College, where he spent the last two years enhancing the strength and conditioning programs across eight athletic teams. His resume is extensive, spanning roles at Ohio State, Western Michigan, Wright State, and even a stint with the Buffalo Bills. He also played a foundational role in designing the first weight room for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Schork brings not just experience, but innovation—exactly what a program seeking a fresh jolt of energy needs.
Utah’s Executive Assistant – Natalie Lainhart
Rounding out the trio is Natalie Lainhart, a former college basketball player and seasoned admin with strong ties to the Utah hoops scene. A graduate of BYU–Idaho, Lainhart played at University of Idaho, BYU–Hawaii, and Salt Lake Community College.
From 2020 to 2024, she worked at BYU, including two years as Mark Pope’s executive assistant, gaining invaluable insight into the inner workings of a high-level program. Her deep familiarity with the region and the game makes her an ideal cultural and logistical fit for the Utes.
All in all, Jensen has rounded out his staff with good, qualified candidates. He’s embraced a more professional model and has laid the foundation for a new era of Utah Basketball.
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.
Take us with you, wherever you go.
Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
