Press Release: Alex Jensen Embraces New Era in College Basketball as Runnin’ Utes’ Head Coach
Since his last tenure as an assistant coach nearly 15 years ago, college basketball has undergone a radical transformation. This shift was highlighted by the recent approval of the House v. NCAA settlement, granting universities the ability to directly compensate student-athletes. This new policy takes effect on July 1, allowing schools like the University of Utah to offer significant financial benefits to their athletes.
Forward Keanu Dawes made history as Utah’s first student-athlete to sign a revenue share agreement with the university, positioning Utah to potentially allocate up to $20.5 million in athlete compensation during the 2025 financial year. Following the settlement’s approval, Utah athletic director Mark Harlan confirmed the university’s commitment to maximizing the allowable investments in revenue sharing.
Navigating these changes is a priority for newly appointed head coach Alex Jensen, who transitioned from a decade-long NBA coaching career to lead the Runnin’ Utes. “The learning curve is bigger for me than for those already in college basketball, which is why I’ve hired a skilled team around me,” Jensen stated. His coaching staff includes experienced professionals like Wes Wilcox, a former NBA executive, alongside Raphael Chillious, Eric Daniels, and Martin Schiller.
Jensen views the settlement as a pivotal development for college sports, anticipating it will help normalize and regulate athlete compensation. “This is just the beginning of the transformation of college sports,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of understanding and leveraging new NIL regulations.
As Jensen prepares his team for this unprecedented landscape, he is committed to ensuring that the Runnin’ Utes remain competitive by effectively navigating the complexities of athlete compensation, ultimately aiming to establish Utah as a leader in embracing these transformative changes.
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