alan huss is now officially next in line to lead Creighton men’s basketball after Greg McDermott announced he will retire following the team’s final game in the College Basketball Crown tournament. The announcement was issued on March 23, 2026, in Omaha, Nebraska, by Creighton University Athletics. Creighton framed the move as the activation of a previously announced coaching transition plan designed to keep continuity in the program.
Retirement timeline and immediate coaching transition
Creighton said McDermott, described by the school as the all-time winningest coach in program history, will remain in place through the Bluejays’ final game in the College Basketball Crown tournament. Only after that game will the handoff occur, with Alan Huss—who returned to his alma mater last April as associate head coach and head coach-in-waiting—taking over as head coach.
The university’s announcement placed the decision squarely within an institutional plan. Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, and McCormick Endowed Athletic Director Marcus Blossom were named as leaders in a transition framework first announced in April 2025, with collaborative insight from McDermott. The school characterized that plan as an “innovative coaching transition plan, ” and said it is now being implemented with McDermott’s retirement.
Alan Huss in the middle of the handoff, with leaders stressing continuity
In his statement, McDermott emphasized gratitude and a clear passing of the torch, saying, “It has been an incredible honor to lead the Creighton men’s basketball program for the past 16 years, ” while highlighting pride in the players who represented the program. He also pointed to the Omaha community’s role, noting consistent sellouts of “17, 000 fans, ” and added, “I look forward to the continued success of Bluejay basketball under the leadership of alan huss. ”.
Hendrickson publicly thanked McDermott for his tenure, saying he guided teams to “thrilling wins and numerous NCAA Tournament appearances, ” and credited him with helping student-athletes develop into leaders. Hendrickson also referenced community galvanizing events including the “Creighton vs. Cancer Pink Out game, ” while adding, “I am confident Coach Huss will continue to build upon our culture of excellence and success. ”.
Blossom echoed that message, calling McDermott’s work “extraordinary contributions” to the program, the BIG EAST Conference, the university, and the community. He said McDermott’s success helped position Creighton as “one of the best basketball programs in the country, ” and then turned to the next phase: “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. ”
Huss, in his first public remarks in the university announcement, said, “I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named the head men’s basketball coach at Creighton University, ” adding that Creighton has meant a great deal to him “as a former player, as an alumnus and through the seven years I’ve spent serving this program. ” He also thanked Hendrickson and Blossom “for their trust and belief in me. ”.
Quick context behind the move
Creighton tied the change to a transition plan unveiled in April 2025 and said the plan is being executed now that McDermott has chosen to retire. The school’s message centered on continuity: a coach-in-waiting structure moving into place immediately after the team’s College Basketball Crown tournament run ends.
What’s next after the Crown finale
All eyes now turn to Creighton’s remaining College Basketball Crown tournament schedule, because the coaching handoff will not happen until the team plays its final game in the event. After that, Creighton says the program will move forward under alan huss, with university leadership signaling an expectation that the culture and on-court standards built under McDermott will carry into the next era.