From Four Players to 35 Teams: The Legacy of Coach Kort Jensen at Oakwood

It all started with blue tape. When Kort Jensen arrived at Oakwood School in 2008, he faced a seemingly impossible challenge: transforming a four-player basketball team into a thriving athletics department. 

In those early days, losses were so brutal that the team could never catch a break, often losing by 50 points or more. But Jensen wasn’t deterred. Armed with blue tape and a unique approach, he divided the gym floor into eight sections teaching basketball like a geometry lesson. It was a turning point. “The Oakwood athlete is smart,” Jensen explained. “Once I divided the court into eight sections, they got it.” 

From this simple but effective strategy, Oakwood’s athletics program began to rise, but Jensen’s journey at Oakwood was more than just improving a basketball team. It was about building a long-lasting athletics department. 

Before joining Oakwood, Jensen had an extensive background in coaching basketball throughout the Bay Area. He had turned down offers from Southern California colleges to stay close to his family, coaching at places like San Jose City College, Gavilan College, and high school programs like Santa Teresa and Gilroy. Family values and a love for mentoring kids drove his coaching career. 

Jensen explained that it all began with his son. “My wife would get a ball and hand it to me and say, ‘Take your son to the gym.’ I would spend hours with him at a time, he’d shoot and I’d rebound. We would talk about respect and values.” 

The early days at Oakwood were daunting. Jensen recalls the team's first game: “We were bad,” he said, chuckling. “Our boys got the ball and he went the wrong way and laid it up and those were our first two points we ever scored.” 

Many wondered why Jensen had chosen a school with only 54 students at the time. But Jensen wasn't in it for the short run. He was ready to build a program. His commitment never wavered. He engaged parents and students, emphasizing consistency, hard work, and supporting one another.

Jensen first met Michelle and Ted Helvey, heads of Oakwood School, through their shared love of basketball. At a local program, SCBA, Jensen noticed a sharp young player with a bowl cut. That player turned out to be the Helveys’ son. 

“I met the Helveys by sitting by them,” Jensen recalls. What began as casual conversations about the game quickly evolved into deeper discussions about the profound impact athletics have on students’ lives. 

This shared perspective became the foundation of a strong partnership, with the Helveys supporting Jensen’s efforts at every step. “We wanted to have an athletic director who would know that playing and winning is important, but that how you treat other people and how you coach young people is more important than the winning,” Michelle Helvey explains.

Jensen understood the importance of creating a memorable, meaningful experience. “No one remembers a basketball score. I remember the van rides, the jokes, I remember those experiences but I don't remember those scores,” Jensen reflected. 

Gradually, the program grew. Jensen didn’t just focus on basketball. Every year he focused on adding one or two more teams. Now, Oakwood has 35 teams across various sports. Building a coaching staff was another vital piece of the puzzle. Jensen handpicked nearly 50 coaches, ensuring they felt supported and valued. 

One of the most defining moments wasn’t about basketball at all but had everything to do with compassion. Jensen recounted a call from a coach at a nearby college, asking if Oakwood could take in a young international student facing dire circumstances. Though the school initially wasn’t set up to host international students, Michelle Helvey worked tirelessly to make it possible. “It had zero to do with basketball and had to do with saving a life,” Jensen said. That moment paved the way for Oakwood to accept more international students and further enrich the athletic community. 

Jensen also played a crucial role in the development of Oakwood’s Athletics Center. From navigating complex questions about construction to choosing paint colors, lining the gym floor, and designing the score table, he invested time and effort to make the facility outstanding. 

Sixteen years after arriving at Oakwood, Coach Kort Jensen has built something extraordinary. He has built an athletics program that excels in competition and building character, through perseverance, innovative thinking, and unwavering commitment to the students.