Creighton has signed men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott to a long-term extension, the school announced Friday, ensuring continuity at the Big East school.
McDermott, 59, has directed the Bluejays to eight NCAA Tournament appearances in 14 seasons, including a run last year to the Elite Eight. He is 322-158 in Omaha and No. 10 Creighton will visit Villanova Saturday in the regular-season finale.
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His win total rates as the second-highest of any coach at the school. The native Iowan was a candidate seven years ago to leave Creighton for Ohio State, and his name surfaced in speculation again last month after the Buckeyes fired Chris Holtmann.
“Greg is one of the best coaches in college basketball, and his continued leadership puts our program in the best possible position to continue to recruit top talent and compete for championships,” third-year Creighton athletic director Marcus Blossom said in a statement.
OUR. COACH.
Head Coach Greg McDermott has signed a long-term contract extension!
🔗https://t.co/JX50H3fPR2#GoJays x @cucoachmac pic.twitter.com/awxPlFVBP1
— Creighton Men’s Basketball (@BluejayMBB) March 8, 2024
This year marks the 13th 20-win season for the Bluejays under McDermott. The Jays recently beat No. 1-ranked UConn and No. 5 Marquette to boost momentum. After the Big East tournament next week, they are projected as a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament, per The Athletic Bracket Watch. Creighton beat NC State, Baylor and Princeton a year ago before losing 57-56 against San Diego State with a trip to the Final Four at stake.
McDermott said he would like to spend the rest of his coaching career at Creighton.
“My staff and I are fortunate to work with outstanding student-athletes,” he said in a statement, “and we will continue to create an environment that allows them to excel both on the court and in the classroom. We are proud to play in front of the best fans in the country, and I am excited to build upon the positive trajectory of our program.”
Sustained success under McDermott
Creighton ranked sixth nationally in average home attendance last year with 17,163 fans per game. McDermott undeniably elevated the program at the side of his son, Doug McDermott, the seventh-leading scorer in NCAA men’s Division I history. Creighton moved out of the Missouri Valley in 2013 and has sustained success in the Big East. This year will mark its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after the cancellation of the 2020 event.
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Some worry existed about the Jays’ future as star guard Baylor Scheierman is set to depart after this season while guard Trey Alexander, guard Steven Ashworth and center Ryan Kalkbrenner face key decisions.
McDermott has recruited well at Creighton. It signed the No. 14-ranked class nationally in November, according to 247Sports. But the retention of McDermott, who had been under contract through 2025-26 before this extension, provides needed security for the Jays in their quest to stay near the top of the Big East.
Required reading
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(Photo: Katie Stratman / USA Today)
