Former Weber State basketball assistant Daniels moves on to Utah
Robert Casey, Weber State Athletics
Weber State assistant men's basketball coach Eric Daniels gives instruction during a practice Sept. 26, 2022, at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.Alex Jensen continues to shape his first coaching staff after taking over the University of Utah men’s basketball program and his latest addition brings in a seasoned in-state coaching veteran.
Jensen has hired Eric Daniels to join his staff, the school announced Thursday.
“I am extremely excited and honored to be joining Coach Jensen and the Utah basketball program,” Daniels said in a news release from the university. “I look forward to the challenge of bringing the Runnin’ Utes back to NCAA Tournaments and pursue championships. Growing up down the road I know what a special place the University of Utah is, and it feels almost surreal being able to come back home and work for a program with such rich tradition. I want to thank Coach Jensen and Mark Harlan for such an incredible opportunity, and can’t wait to get started!”
Daniels most recently coached one season on the bench at Utah State and follows his father Donny’s footsteps to Salt Lake City; the elder Daniels coached for 11 seasons at Utah under Rick Majerus and returned for two seasons in semi-retirement as Larry Krystkowiak’s director of player personnel.
Eric Daniels will now have coached at five of the state’s seven Division I basketball-playing universities.
A former NAIA player, Daniels began as the director of basketball operations at Southern Utah in 2008-09. He then spent five years as an assistant coach at Division II Regis University in Denver and one season as a video analyst for the Orlando Magic.
Daniels returned to Utah to coach for four seasons on Mark Pope’s staff at Utah Valley. Weber State coach Randy Rahe then hired Daniels to join the Wildcats; he assisted at WSU from 2019-24 until his hire by Utah State’s Jerrod Calhoun for a job this past season.
“I couldn’t be happier to have Eric join our staff,” Jensen said in the statement. “Eric has deep ties to the Runnin’ Utes. He’s a great player development coach and has been successful at every stop he’s had in his career. Eric also has a deep connection and understanding to basketball in the state of Utah that will be instrumental to the future of our program.”
Daniels is the second assistant added to Jensen’s staff, joining high school and college coaching veteran Raphael Chillious. Jensen also pulled Wes Wilcox out of an assistant GM role with the Sacramento Kings to be Utah’s general manager.
