Alex Jensen jumps from SLU program to join NBDL staff in Ohio

A staple of the Saint Louis University Men’s Basketball program has graduated to the next level. Assistant Coach Alex Jensen has accepted the head coaching position for a start-up development team for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team and SLU announced on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

“Al indicated to me that he wanted to go in a different direction with his career and pursue this NBA opportunity presented by the Cleveland Cavaliers to coach for Canton,” SLU Head Coach Rick Majerus said in a statment released by SLU. “He is an outstanding coach and will certainly be missed, but you have to seize the opportunity when it’s available. The team, the Billiken basketball community and I wish him success and thank him for the fantastic job he did for us.”

Jensen’s departure from SLU will end a long relationship with Majerus.

He formally played for Majerus at the University of Utah for four years, helping to lead the Utes to the NCAA Championship in 1998 before playing professional ball overseas. Jensen came to SLU in 2006 as a graduate assistant for the Billikens. He was promoted to a full time assistant a year later, focusing on post play and defense.

A search for his successor is underway and is expected to conclude shortly.

“I would like to thank Saint Louis and especially Coach Rick Majerus, who has taught me so much, first as a player and later as a coach on his staff. He is one of the best in basketball, and I will always be very grateful for the many, many things I have learned from him,” Jensen said in a statement released by the Cavaliers. “This is a rare and unique opportunity to be part of a great organization. I’m honored to be selected as the first coach in Canton franchise history and excited to get to work.”

Jensen will be formally introduced next week, according to Canton General Manager Wes Wilcox.

Per team and league policy, terms of the contract were not released.