Kyle Whittingham Is Fired Up Over Alex Jensen’s Return To Utah Basketball
Mar 20, 2025, 9:51 PM | Updated: Mar 21, 2025, 10:33 am
Kyle Whittingham is stepping down as the Utah football head coach after 21 seasons.
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah football’s spring ball is exciting, but Utah basketball grabbed the headlines earlier this week when it officially introduced Alex Jensen as the program’s 17th head coach.
Since the job opened, Jensen has always been considered the top target, but he was by no means a shoo-in for the job.
Both Jensen and Utah had to go through a diligent process before reaching the destination where the two parties ultimately met.
Many deserve credit for how the process was handled and completed, including head coach Kyle Whittingham.
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 + 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝟏❗ pic.twitter.com/KwRzt6e8cL
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) March 21, 2025
Kyle Whittingham is fired up over Alex Jensen’s hire
Alex Jensen’s hire is a big move not only for Utah basketball but the entire athletic department. During the process, Jensen and Whittingham actually had a conversation.
Though he’s been labeled a key figure in Jensen’s decision, Whittingham shied away from the notion.
“Oh, you know, Alex and I had a conversation, but that— I’m excited about Alex being here,” Whittingham said. “I’ve got all the respect in the world for him, what he did as a player, what he’s done as a coach, and I’m excited to see what he does with that program.”
There’s been a lot of positivity around the hire, and Whittingham’s stamp of approval only adds to it.
“It’s going to be a tough, hard-nosed, competitive team that will make the fan base proud,” Jensen said. “That’s the one thing that I will strive to do, and won’t cut corners, but it’ll be a team that they’ll be proud of.” – Alex Jensen
RELATED: Alex Jensen Officially Introduced As Head Coach Of Utah Men’s Basketball
Strengthening the Utah Athletics community
Jensen’s hire as head coach of Utah’s men’s basketball program has the potential to significantly strengthen the University of Utah Athletics community.
His return to the Utes signals a renewed commitment to the program. His coaching experience and connection to the glory days have strengthened ties to the fanbase.
Utah’s ticket office has seen a surge in inquiries regarding season tickets, which speaks to the fanbase’s response and is expected to continue growing.
Moreover, Whittingham’s program is already a prominent force in collegiate football. With Jensen’s hire, the goal is to make Utah basketball a similarly prominent force.
The hope is that Jensen’s arrival will continue to strengthen the basketball program’s connection to the broader athletic community.
