Creighton coach Greg McDermott retired, the varsity introduced on Monday. McDermott knowledgeable his crew at a Monday morning assembly, sources instructed CBS Sports.
Fortunately for this system, the subsequent coach up in Omaha is already within the constructing: Alan Huss will probably be promoted as a results of McDermott’s resolution to step away. Huss is a longtime assistant beneath McDermott. He took the High Point job in 2023 and introduced the Panthers to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, then returned to Creighton in April of final 12 months after Huss, McDermott and Creighton athletic director Marcus Blossom agreed on a succession plan.
“It has been an incredible honor to lead the Creighton men’s basketball program for the past 16 years,” McDermott mentioned in an announcement. “I’m very proud of the young men that have proudly worn the Bluejay uniform and represented our program in a first-class manner. Witnessing their growth and development on and off the playing floor was especially gratifying.
“I’m deeply grateful for the help of my household, our gamers, teaching employees and help employees, as properly as the presidents, athletic administrators, and all of the University and athletic directors. The help of the Omaha group constantly packing our area with 17,000 followers has created many fond recollections.
“While this chapter of my career comes to a close, my love and respect for the Bluejays will never fade. I look forward to the continued success of Bluejay basketball under the leadership of Alan Huss.”
McDermott’s last season is just not ending a excessive observe, alas. This 12 months’s crew didn’t have an NCAA Tournament-level roster for the primary time since 2019. The Bluejays completed 15-17, which was the second-worst marketing campaign beneath McDermott. Creighton’s season ended with a 72-61 loss to Seton Hall within the Big East Tournament.
Bad last 12 months apart, the 61-year-old McDermott leaves as essentially the most completed coach in program historical past. In addition to overseeing Creighton’s priceless improve from the Missouri Valley to the Big East within the early 2010s, McDermott coached 11 NCAA Tournament-level groups at Creighton — the Jays would’ve simply made the 2020 Big Dance — and made two Sweet 16s (2021, 2024) alongside with an Elite Eight (2023). McDermott went 365-188 at Creighton, and when factoring in his time as coach at North Dakota State, Northern Iowa and Iowa State, the man different coaches name “Mac” steps away with a profession file of 645-383 with 13 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Another momentous achievement: teaching son Doug into being an NBA participant and a school basketball legend. Doug McDermott was a four-year star for Creighton, a three-time First Team All-American and left school basketball as the No. 5 all-time main scorer in 2014 (3,150). The 34-year-old McDermott was the 2013-14 National Player of the Year in his last season and has constructed out a strong NBA profession since, lasting a dozen seasons within the NBA. It was Doug’s presence and prominence as an more and more uncommon four-year school basketball star that helped validate Creighton’s standing within the sport whereas Greg constructed Creighton right into a year-over-year contender within the rebuilt Big East.
McDermott gained 5 regular-season and postseason championships throughout his 26 seasons as a D-I coach. In 2020, he was named Big East Coach of the Year. Last season, a CBS Sports survey of greater than 100 coaches throughout D-I listed McDermott as the No. 3 overall X’s-and-O’s coach in the game.
Huss — who was approached for different alternatives each this 12 months and final — has seven seasons price of expertise in Omaha. The Bluejays aren’t anticipated to rank within the top half of the Big East in NIL assets, per sources, however the crew’s house area (CHI Health Center Omaha) gives a official home-court benefit. Fundraising is vital for the Jays to be aggressive within the portal subsequent month.
The Huss period additionally means Creighton will probably be on simply its third coach prior to now 32 years. Prior to McDermott, Dana Altman coached the Jays from 1994-2010.
