Alan Huss Returns to Creighton as Head-Coach-in-Waiting
In a surprising yet exciting turn of events, High Point men’s basketball coach Alan Huss is making a significant career move. Huss is stepping down from his current role to rejoin Greg McDermott’s staff at Creighton, where he will be named the head-coach-in-waiting, according to sources who spoke with ESPN.
For those who have followed Huss’s career, this move might not come as a complete shock. Huss, 46, has a rich history with Creighton, having served as McDermott’s assistant for six seasons before taking the helm at High Point in 2023. His return to Creighton is a homecoming of sorts, as he is also an alum of the university, having played for the Bluejays under Dana Altman from 1997 to 2001.
While the timeline for McDermott’s retirement remains unspecified, the decision to bring Huss back into the fold speaks volumes about the trust and confidence the Creighton program has in him. During his tenure at High Point, Huss has been nothing short of impressive. He has led the Panthers to a remarkable 56-15 record, clinching back-to-back Big South regular-season championships and securing a spot in the NCAA tournament just last month.
High Point’s recent season was particularly noteworthy. The team finished with an outstanding 29-6 overall record, going 14-2 in league play. They triumphed in the conference tournament, although their journey was cut short by Purdue in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Huss’s ability to elevate the program in such a short time has undoubtedly caught the attention of many in the basketball community.
Before his successful stint at High Point, Huss honed his coaching skills as an assistant at New Mexico and as the head coach of the high school powerhouse La Lumiere School in Indiana. His diverse coaching background and strong ties to Creighton make him a natural fit for the head-coach-in-waiting position.
As for Greg McDermott, the current head coach of Creighton, his legacy is firmly established. McDermott, 60, has been at the helm since 2010 and has led the Bluejays to five consecutive NCAA tournaments and 10 total NCAA appearances. Under his leadership, Creighton won a share of the Big East regular-season title in 2020, although the NCAA tournament was canceled that year due to the pandemic.
Creighton’s recent performances have been nothing short of stellar. The Bluejays have won at least one NCAA tournament game in each of the past five seasons, with three Sweet 16 appearances and an Elite Eight run in 2023. This past season, they posted a 25-11 record, going 15-5 in the Big East, before falling to top-seeded Auburn in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
- Alan Huss returns to Creighton as head-coach-in-waiting.
- Huss led High Point to a 56-15 record and two Big South titles.
- Greg McDermott has been Creighton’s head coach since 2010.
- Creighton has made five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
As the basketball world watches this transition unfold, the anticipation builds around what Huss will bring to Creighton in his new role. His track record suggests that the Bluejays are in for an exciting future, and fans will be eager to see how this new chapter in Creighton’s storied basketball history will play out.
Originally Written by: Pete Thamel,Jeff Borzello
