Greg McDermott

Greg McDermott, born on November 25, 1964, in Cascade, Iowa, has established a notable career in collegiate basketball coaching. He played college basketball as a 6’8″ center for the Northern Iowa Panthers from 1984 to 1988, where he accumulated 1,033 career points and earned a B.A. degree in 1988. After a brief professional playing stint in Switzerland, McDermott transitioned into coaching, beginning as an assistant at the University of North Dakota from 1989 to 1994. In this role, he contributed to five consecutive NCAA Division II tournament appearances and two North Central Conference crowns. His early head coaching roles included Wayne State College (1994-2000) and North Dakota State (2000-2001), laying the groundwork for his future success.

McDermott’s career progressed as he took over as head coach at his alma mater, Northern Iowa, from 2001 to 2006. During this period, he revitalized the program, leading the Panthers to their first NCAA Tournament appearances since 1990 in 2004, 2005, and 2006, along with a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. He then moved to Iowa State, coaching from 2006 to 2010, where he developed five all-conference players. A significant turning point in his career came on April 27, 2010, when he was named the head coach for Creighton University’s men’s basketball team.

At Creighton, McDermott has achieved significant milestones, including guiding the Bluejays to three Sweet Sixteen appearances and one Elite Eight in the last five years. He holds a 350-171 record in his 15 seasons with Creighton and has led them to nine consecutive top-four finishes in BIG EAST play. Under his leadership, the program has consistently achieved national rankings, attracted record attendance, and seen numerous players advance to professional careers. Notable achievements include the team’s first preseason top-10 ranking in 2022-23 and the renaming of the Championship Center to The McDermott Center in recognition of his family’s contributions.