April 10, 2025

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY APPOINTS ALAN HUSS AS ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH AND HEAD COACH IN WAITING

The Hiring of Coach Huss Sets the Stage for a Seamless Coaching Transition when Head Coach Greg McDermott Retires

In an Era of Instability for Student-Athletes, Creighton University Leaders Unify to Implement Succession Plan for Men’s Basketball Program

OMAHA, NE (April 10, 2025) – Creighton University has appointed Alan Huss as associate head coach and head coach in waiting for men’s basketball. Huss most recently served as the men’s basketball head coach at High Point University. Current Creighton Men’s Basketball Head Coach Greg McDermott remains the Bluejays’ head coach. Huss will begin his tenure as associate head coach on April 11, 2025.

In an era of collegiate athletics uncertainty, McCormick Endowed Athletic Director Marcus Blossom worked with Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, as he identified a diverse national pool of outstanding professional and collegiate basketball candidates. Blossom collaboratively integrated the insights of McDermott and successfully hired Huss.

The strategic decision to hire Huss now as a head coach in waiting allows Creighton to implement a clear succession plan that prioritizes and maximizes student-athlete success and stability, continues to build leaders on and off the court, and keeps the program focused on competing for championships.

“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,” Blossom said. “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.”

As a former Creighton men’s basketball student-athlete and assistant coach under McDermott for six successful seasons, Huss brings unparalleled leadership and strategic vision, valuable recruiting know-how, and a deep connection to the Bluejays basketball program to the position.

“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. “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.”

Huss compiled an outstanding head coaching record of 56-15 during his two years at High Point University, highlighting his ability to build and lead teams to success. High Point achieved historic milestones, including the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in Division I history and a program-record 29 Division I wins during the 2024-2025 season, showcasing his capacity to elevate a program to new heights. Huss was named the Big South Conference Coach of the Year in 2024-2025 and 2023-2024.

“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.”

McDermott, who has served as head coach at Creighton for 15 years, remains focused on leading his men’s basketball program and positioning the Bluejays for championship success in the coming years. With deep ties and respected relationships in the community, when the time is right, McDermott will assist in the transition and support the program’s future success, ensuring that the values and culture he has instilled continue to thrive. To be proactive and strategic, he will continue to work collaboratively with Fr. Hendrickson and Blossom to ensure a smooth and successful transition for the program.

“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.”

McDermott, who has been at the helm of Creighton men’s basketball since April 27, 2010, boasts an impressive 350-171 record with the Bluejays. This record makes him the all-time winningest coach in program history while leading the team to national prominence. Under McDermott’s leadership, Creighton has appeared in 10 of the last 13 NCAA Tournaments, with notable Sweet 16 appearances in 2020-2021, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024, and a remarkable Elite Eight run in 2022-2023.

Fr. Hendrickson, Blossom, and McDermott remain dedicated to fostering growth, character development, and student education, as demonstrated by the men’s basketball program achieving its highest-ever GPA in the fall of 2024. In response to the current era of uncertainty for student-athletes, they are implementing strategies to ensure long-term stability within the men’s basketball program and its coaching staff.

Image	#	Full Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Year	Hometown / High School	Previous School
	0	Antwann Jones	G	6' 6''	220	So.	Orlando, Fla. / Oak Ridge HS	Memphis
	4	Shereef Mitchell	G	6' 0''	170	So.	Omaha, Neb. / Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]
	5	Alex O'Connell	G	6' 6''	186	Sr.	Roswell, Ga. / Milton	Duke
	10	Jett Canfield	G	5' 10''	165	So.	Topeka, Kan. / Hayden Catholic
	11	Marcus Zegarowski	G	6' 2''	180	Jr.	Hamilton, Mass. / Tilton School
	12	Andrew Merfeld	G	5' 11''	185	Fr.	Omaha, Neb. / Skutt Catholic
	13	Christian Bishop	F	6' 7''	220	Jr.	Lee's Summit, Mo. / West
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	14	Sami Osmani	G	6' 4''	205	Fr.	Oak Lawn, Ill. / Oak Lawn Community
	20	Nic Zeil	F	6' 8''	210	So.	Kansas City, Mo. / Park Hill
	22	Devin Davis	G	6' 0''	175	Fr.	Chicago, Ill. / Westinghouse College Prep
	23	Damien Jefferson	F	6' 5''	220	Sr.	East Chicago, Ind. / Central	New Mexico
	24	Mitch Ballock	G	6' 5''	205	Sr.	Eudora, Kan. / Eudora
	32	Ryan Kalkbrenner	C	7' 0''	235	Fr.	Florissant, Mo. / Trinity Catholic
	34	Denzel Mahoney	G/F	6' 5''	220	Sr.	Oviedo, Fla. / Hagerty	Southeast Missouri State
	41	Jacob Epperson	C	6' 11''	235	Jr.	Melbourne, Australia / La Lumiere
	44	Rati Andronikashvili	G	6' 4''	185	Fr.	Tbilisi, Georgia / 35 Sajaro Skoka
	55	Modestas Kancleris	F	6' 9''	195	Fr.	Kaunas, Lithuania / Varpas Gimnazija

Coaching Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Greg McDermott	Head Coach	gjm52@creighton.edu	(402) 280-1795
	Alan Huss	Assistant Coach	alanhuss@creighton.edu	(402) 280-1795
	Terrence Rencher	Assistant Coach	terrencerencher@creighton.edu	(402) 280-1795
	Paul Lusk	Assistant Coach	paullusk@creighton.edu	(402) 280-1795
	Steve Merfeld	Assistant to the Head Coach	stevemerfeld@creighton.edu	(402) 280-1795
	Jeff Vanderloo	Director of Basketball Operations	JeffVanderloo@creighton.edu	(402) 280-1795
	Casey Matthews	Video Coordinator	caseymatthews@creighton.edu	(402) 280-1795
	John McKew	Administrative Specialist	johnmckew@creighton.edu	(402) 280-3834
	Len Gordy	Diversity & Inclusion Officer	leonardgordy@creighton.edu	(402) 280-2438
	Patty Galas	Secretary	pgalas@creighton.edu	(402) 280-1795

2020-21 Men's Basketball Roster

Antwann Jones

Shereef Mitchell

Alex O'Connell

Jett Canfield

Marcus Zegarowski

Andrew Merfeld

Christian Bishop

Sami Osmani

Nic Zeil

Devin Davis

Damien Jefferson

Mitch Ballock

Ryan Kalkbrenner

Denzel Mahoney

Jacob Epperson

Rati Andronikashvili

Modestas Kancleris

Greg McDermott

Alan Huss

Terrence Rencher

Paul Lusk

Steve Merfeld

Jeff Vanderloo

Casey Matthews

John McKew

Len Gordy

Patty Galas