Utah Basketball: Alex Jensen’s Staff Built, Focus Shifts To Recruiting
Apr 11, 2025, 2:11 PM | Updated: 2:12 pm
Alex Jensen introduced as head coach of Utah men's basketball. Photo by Steve Bartle, KSL Sports
SALT LAKE CITY—Alex Jensen, the newly minted head coach of the Runnin’ Utes, took some time assembling a staff, but after the latest additions, Utah basketball’s future looks promising.
Utah announced three more staff additions this week in Eric Daniels, Martin Schiller, and Rico Sylvester. All three possess strong resumes and credentials that add a lot of value to the Runnin’ Utes bench.
Remember, this is a complete rebuild, and year one will be about establishing the foundation of Jensen’s program. Still, these additions signal Utah’s increased desire to contend and its increased resources for the program.
RELATED: Martin Schiller Named Third Assistant Coach On Alex Jensen’s Utah Basketball Staff
🗣️🗣️🗣️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/cXydnnFnxw
— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 18, 2025
Alex Jensen’s coaching staff possesses quality experience
Utah made a sharp move by hiring Wes Wilcox—an NBA vet—as General Manager, signaling a shift toward a more modern, pro-style approach. Wilcox brings front office smarts, talent evaluation chops, and financial savvy to help maximize Utah’s resources.
On the coaching front, head coach Jensen stacked his bench with a mix of experience and edge.
Raphael Chillious is an elite recruiter with major stops at Washington, Villanova, and UConn. His deep grassroots ties give Utah real firepower on the recruiting trail, and he’ll play a prominent role in all of Utah’s recruiting efforts.
Eric Daniels is a promising up-and-comer with 10+ years of coaching experience at UVU, Weber State, and Utah State. He’s proven his ability to develop players at each stop.
Martin Schiller was announced as an assistant coach Friday morning. A lengthy international resume, which includes time in the EuroLeague. Schiller also served as head coach of the SLC Stars (coach of the year winner in 2020). He’s a tactical mind and well-connected globally.
Rico Sylvester is the latest hire from the NBA. He joins the program from Sacramento’s front office, with previous college experience—now overseeing Utah’s operations and player personnel.
Bottom line: Utah’s ditching the old college-only model for a smarter, more professional build.
Focus shift to Utah’s recruiting efforts
Utah’s current roster is far from finished. With the staff essentially complete, Utah can turn greater attention to recruiting.
There are some pieces in place on the roster already, though very few. Jensen and his new staff have work to do to reach 15 scholarship players. The Utes need difference-makers, not just seat warmers on the bench.
RELATED: Utah Basketball Linked To Four-Star Recruit, Exciting Transfer Portal Targets
The Utes have been linked to a handful of prospects, and with the staff in place, action should only increase from here.
Though recruiting has been quiet to date, this is not due to a lack of effort. Much work has been done out of the spotlight, in the shadows, behind the scenes.
Sources have indicated that Utah is expected to welcome a handful of visitors next week and is well-positioned with targets, too. Utah needs a lot, but above all else, Utah needs players who will help establish the culture in year one.
Setting the Tone: Utah’s Culture Starts with Defense
Roster building is urgent—but culture is permanent. Jensen isn’t just recruiting players. He’s building a program, and that starts with identity. For Utah, that identity will start on the defensive end.
“I want to build something, I don’t want to build a new team every year, but build some continuity that way,” Alex Jensen said in an interview with NCAA reporter Andy Katz.
So great to catch up with Alex Jensen, the new @UtahMBB coach. Plenty of memories covering him during the Rick Majerus era during the glory days of the WAC. (cc: @Big12Conference @MarchMadnessMBB @dallasmavs @utahjazz): pic.twitter.com/6t2Opw7gcR
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) April 11, 2025
“Watching Houston make their run, Kelvin [Sampson] does such a good job, he gets his guys to play so hard,” Jensen shared. “That’s something the assistants I’ve hired talk about. That’s who we measure ourselves to and we’ve got to get kids that are tough like that and compete like them.”
In Jensen’s vision, the Runnin’ Utes will be a disciplined, gritty, tough, defensive-minded program. Think closeouts with purpose. Rotations with urgency. Contests without fouling. Utah isn’t going to outgun everyone—they’ll out-tough them.
