Creighton Coach Greg McDermott Announces Retirement

Creighton coach Greg McDermott is retiring, the school announced on Monday. With an overall record of 365-188 across 16 years, McDermott is the all-time winningest coach in program history. He led the Bluejays to two conference regular-season titles and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to joining Creighton, he was the head coach at Northern Iowa (2001-06) and Iowa State (2006-10).

McDermott will be replaced by associate head coach Alan Huss, a former player at Creighton from 1997-2001. Huss was an assistant for the Bluejays from 2017-23 before accepting his first head coaching job at High Point. He returned to his alma mater last April to become the head-coach-in-waiting.

“It has been an incredible honor to lead the Creighton men’s basketball program for the past 16 years,” McDermott said in a statement. “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 support of my family, our players, coaching staff and support staff, as well as the presidents, athletic directors, and all the University and athletic administrators. The support of the Omaha community consistently packing our arena with 17,000 fans has created many fond memories.

“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.”

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“I join Creighton men’s basketball fans and supporters everywhere in thanking Coach McDermott for his 16 years as head coach,” said Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD. “He has guided our teams to thrilling wins and numerous NCAA Tournament appearances. Beyond the basketball court, he has helped student-athletes develop into leaders and galvanized our community with events like the Creighton vs. Cancer Pink Out game. While we will miss Coach McDermott’s leadership and presence on the sidelines, I am confident Coach Huss will continue to build upon our culture of excellence and success.”

Huss found tremendous success in his two years at High Point, going 56-15 and winning a pair of Big South regular-season championships. He wasn’t looking to leave, but the opportunity at Creighton was too perfect to pass up. “It was something that obviously I had to consider just because it’s home,” Huss told Hoops HQ in May. “And when you have a place that’s home, and especially a place that’s been as successful as Creighton basketball has been for the last couple decades, it’s intriguing. And it’s hopefully a place I can go and not move again.”

Creighton is coming off a down season in which it finished fifth in the Big East with a 9-11 record (15-17 overall), failing to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.