Last March when Greg McDermott signed a longterm extension to stay at Creighton, he said “There is no place I would rather be for the rest of my career than Creighton.” We now know he will indeed finish his coaching career on the Hilltop — and that the succession plan is in place for when it does. According to reports from ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman and others, former assistant coach and player Alan Huss is returning to Creighton after two seasons as head coach at High Point. His immediate role will be taking the assistant role vacated by Ryan Miller, with the additional title of “Head Coach in Waiting.” Creighton officially announced the move in an email sent to students by Fr. Daniel Hendrickson at 3:30pm, following a few minutes later by social media posts and a news release on their website.
“Returning to Creighton, my alma mater, to work alongside Coach McDermott and contribute to the future of this program is an extraordinary opportunity and, honestly, my dream job,” Huss said in a release put out by the school. “The chance to build upon the foundation of Bluejay basketball while preparing to lead this program is incredibly special. I am extremely grateful to Fr. Hendrickson, Marcus Blossom, and Coach McDermott for their faith in me. Our family is absolutely thrilled to rejoin the Bluejay community.”
“I am excited to welcome Alan back to our program, not only as a valued member of our coaching staff but as the future head coach of Creighton men’s basketball,” McDermott said. “I have known Alan for nearly 20 years and can attest that his dedication and vision perfectly align with our commitment to a winning culture. When the time is right, he will be the ideal coach to keep Creighton men’s basketball among the nation’s best. A big thank you to Fr. Hendrickson and Marcus for their teamwork and for bringing Alan on board.”
It’s become more and more commonplace across college sports, and during Final Four weekend it was revealed Houston coach Kelvin Sampson has it written into his contract that his son (and associate head coach) Kellen will take over when he retires. Gonzaga’s Mark Few has had two of them; assistant Tommy Lloyd was previously his HCIW but left for Arizona before Few was done coaching. Current assistant Brian Michaelson is now the HCIW. Jon Scheyer is perhaps the most famous example, serving in that role under Mike Krzyzewski and then taking over when he retired. And now Creighton has their succession plan for when McDermott retires — Huss will be the next head coach.
Welcome back to Omaha to Alan, his wife Katie, and daughters Nicky and Mary! Thanks to Father Hendrickson and the BOT for their support of men’s basketball. We’re in great hands with Coach Mac, Alan Huss and a fantastic MBB staff! Let’s keep building!
#GoJays https://t.co/EkwKjYkGiz
— Marcus Blossom (@MarcusBlossom) April 10, 2025
“Coach McDermott’s legacy extends far beyond his record as the most successful coach in Bluejay history. He’s also a mentor, developing coaches like Alan Huss, who have gone on to become successful head coaches and impactful leaders of student-athletes,” Athletic Director Marcus Blossom said in a release. “Coach Huss embodies everything Creighton stands for, as a person and coach, and we are excited to welcome him back. When the time comes for Greg to conclude his distinguished career at Creighton, I have complete confidence that Coach Huss will build upon our success, upholding the values and culture that Coach McDermott has so carefully cultivated.”
Huss was a four-year member of the Creighton men’s basketball team from 1997 to 2001, where he played under head coach Dana Altman and alongside future NBA sharpshooter Kyle Korver. During his collegiate career with the Bluejays, Huss was part of three NCAA Tournament teams (1999, 2000, 2001), two Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles (1999, 2000) and one MVC regular-season title (2001). He played in 94 games with the Bluejays, including 39 starts.
After graduating from CU in 2002, Huss went on to build a decorated coaching career. Starting at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, he set the school record for wins in each of his final two seasons as head coach. After taking over the prep program at La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana, he amassed an impressive 102-19 record for a team that was regularly ranked as one of the top high school programs in the nation. His record included a perfect 62-0 home record at Marsch Gymnasium. Huss coached more than three dozen Division I products at the high school level, including former NBA guard Darington Hobson.
His first collegiate job came at New Mexico under head coach Craig Neal. From 2014-17, the Lobos compiled 49 victories behind three straight MWC top-three recruiting classes. New Mexico went 33-13 at The Pit during that time, and the Lobos finished 5-1 in six meetings against in-state rival New Mexico State.
Then he returned to Creighton, and spent six years on McDermott’s staff. He worked closely with the power forwards, while also playing a big role in the development of the team’s offense, scouting, and recruiting. He was a vital part of Creighton’s No. 7 nationally-ranked 2021-2022 recruiting class, a group that included Ryan Nembhard, Arthur Kaluma, and Trey Alexander. Elevated to associate head coach in 2021, he helped guide the Bluejays to their first Elite Eight appearance the following season.
In two seasons running his own program at High Point, he compiled a 56-15 record and won back-to-back outright regular season Big South Conference championships for the first in school history. He won Big South Coach of the Year both seasons. His first team went 27-9 and advanced to the championship of the CBI where they lost to Seattle. In his second year, they were 29-6 and earned a 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament, losing 75-63 to Purdue.
His quick work at High Point, and recruiting acumen at New Mexico and Creighton, made him a rising star in the coaching profession. And now he’s set to take over the reigns at his alma mater.
“We have all witnessed the remarkable achievements of our Bluejays—in the Big East, the NCAA Tournament, and within our community,” Fr. Hendrickson said. “Today marks an exciting step as we build upon that trajectory of excellence. I am deeply appreciative to Marcus Blossom, for his hard work and collaboration in facilitating this move, which unites our all-time winningest coach, Greg McDermott, with the exceptional talent of Alan Huss—a former Bluejay student-athlete and coach—to ensure Creighton basketball remains a national powerhouse in this evolving landscape of collegiate athletics.”