Greg McDermott retiring as Creighton coach with top assistant Alan Huss promoted

Creighton coach Greg McDermott retired, the college introduced on Monday. McDermott knowledgeable his crew at a Monday morning assembly, sources informed CBS Sports.

Fortunately for this system, the following coach up in Omaha is already within the constructing: Alan Huss might be promoted as a results of McDermott’s resolution to step away. Huss is a longtime assistant below 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 yr 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 stated in a press release. “I’m very proud of the young men who 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 workers and help workers, as effectively as the presidents, athletic administrators, and all of the University and athletic directors. The help of the Omaha neighborhood constantly packing our area with 17,000 followers has created many fond recollections.

“While this chapter of my career comes to 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 closing season isn’t ending on a excessive notice, alas. This yr’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 below McDermott. Creighton’s season ended with a 72-61 loss to Seton Hall within the Big East Tournament.

Bad closing yr apart, the 61-year-old McDermott leaves as essentially the most achieved 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 Statethe man different coaches name “Mac” steps away with a profession report of 645-383 with 13 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Another momentous achievement: teaching son Doug into being an NBA participant and a university 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 closing 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 received 5 regular-season and postseason championships throughout his 26 seasons as a DI coach. In 2020, he was named Big East Coach of the Year. Last season, a CBS Sports survey of greater than 100 coaches throughout DI 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 yr 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 sources, per sources, however the crew’s residence area (CHI Health Center Omaha) supplies a reliable home-court benefit. Fundraising is essential for the Jays to be aggressive within the portal subsequent month.

The Huss period additionally means Creighton might be on simply his third coach up to now 32 years. Prior to McDermott, Dana Altman coached the Jays from 1994-2010.