The winningest coach in Creighton men’s basketball history is calling it a career. After 32 years as a college head coach — 16 of them at Creighton — Greg McDermott announced he will step down after Creighton’s run in the College Basketball Crown in early April.
Creighton alumnus Alan Huss, who returned to Omaha this season as associate head coach and coach-in-waiting on McDermott’s staff, will take over as head coach following the Crown.
“It has been an incredible honor to lead the Creighton men’s basketball program for the past 16 years,” McDermott said in a release. “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.”
McDermott coached Creighton to a 365-188 record across 16 seasons. He oversaw the transition from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Big East and led the program to new heights with 14 seasons of 20-plus wins and 12 NCAA Tournament wins in 10 NCAA Tournament trips, including one Elite Eight (2023) and three Sweet 16 appearances (2021, 2023 and 2024).
For his career, McDermott owns a record of 645-383 in 32 seasons as a head coach at Wayne State (1994-2000), North Dakota State (2000-2001), Northern Iowa (2001-2006), Iowa State (2006-2010) and Creighton (2010-2026).
“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.”
McDermott, a native of Cascade, Iowa, became Creighton’s all-time wins leader on Nov. 13, 2024, when he passed predecessor Dana Altman with his 328th victory. He guided Creighton to two regular season conference titles — 2012-13 in the MVC and 2019-20 in the Big East — and two MVC Tournament championships. He led Creighton to 17 top-10 wins, including victories over No. 1 Connecticut and No. 1 Kansas in 2024.
Creighton is second among all Big East teams in league wins teams since joining the conference in 2013 and has finished in the top five 10 straight years, the third-longest such streak in conference history and best in 35 years. McDermott secured 147 Big East victories at the helm for Creighton, ranking sixth-most all-time behind five Naismith Hall of Famers.
McDermott has been one of the most well-respected coaches across college basketball throughout his career, both for his offensive acumen and for his character. Numerous former players and coaching peers have shared their congratulations and praise for McDermott since he announced his retirement.
“We are deeply grateful for Coach McDermott’s extraordinary contributions to our men’s basketball program, the BIG EAST Conference, our university, and our community,” athletic director Marcus Blossom said. “The success accomplished by McDermott, his staff, and his dedicated student-athletes came at a pivotal time for Bluejay athletics and helped position Creighton as one of the best basketball programs in the country. His impact at Creighton will be long-lasting, and we wish him the very best in his next chapter.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Huss as our next head coach. He brings exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and deep passion for Creighton to this position. And we are all confident that he will build on a very successful foundation as we pursue our goal to be the best basketball program in the BIG EAST.”
Huss returned to Creighton ahead of the 2025-26 season for his second stint on McDermott’s staff after two successful seasons running his own program at High Point. Born in Decatur, Ill., Huss was a standout player at North Kansas City (Mo.) High School before playing at Creighton under Altman from 1997 to 2001. He joined McDermott’s staff at Creighton as an assistant in 2017 and spent six seasons on staff before departing to accept the head coaching position at High Point in 2023.
Huss led the Panthers to a 56-15 record across two seasons, finishing as CBI runner-up in 2024 before leading High Point to the NCAA Tournament in 2025. He recruited much of this year’s Panther squad that knocked off Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before departing to accept the coach-in-waiting role at his alma mater.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named the head men’s basketball coach at Creighton University,” said Huss. “This University has meant so much to me as a former player, as an alumnus and through the seven years I’ve spent serving this program. Creighton helped shape who I am, and the opportunity to now lead this program is something I do not take lightly.
“I want to sincerely thank Fr. Hendrickson and Marcus Blossom for their trust and belief in me. I also want to express my deep gratitude to Coach McDermott, who elevated this program to national prominence and built a culture of consistency and excellence that is respected across the country. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn under his leadership and for the belief he has shown in me throughout this transition.”
Creighton has scheduled a press conference to discuss that transition on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the McDermott Center. It will be closed to the public but streamed on the Creighton Athletic Department’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/live/_42ocKvRQAA.
