McDermott Retires

[auror]

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[CCSUblue]

 

[WillMadsDad]

Wow - little surprised. Great in game coach - definitely had our number many times. Maybe the Creighton fan base will have less hope against us moving forward.

 

[aceboon]

 

[Umami Zen]

Class act. Could see him mentoring/deferring to Huss during our games this year. Figured something was up when he didn't show interest in interviewing for ASU job. Loves to golf. Wish him well.

 

[Son of Robert]

Excellent coach, McDermott built that Creighton program which competed at the highest levels for a good 15 years. Sorry to see him go, he has serious presence and always seemed a respectful guy.

 

[Henry]

Coaches are getting burnt out by how the sport has changed with NIL and the transfer portal. Reconstructing a team every year is stressful and exhausting.

 

[huskyblooz]

Thank God!

 

[freescooter]

Very good coach. Hope he has a long and productive retirement.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Outstanding coach and a class guy. Did tremendous things for that program. One of the best Xs and Os coaches I've ever seen. The current structure has to be hard on some of these guys, the job is probably a lot less fun.

 

[Deepster]

I hope he enjoys his retirement. Count me in on the posters glad we don't have to face him anymore.

 

[gsmooth]

Sad to see Big Mac go. He has done great things for the Creighton Basketball program after picking it up from Dana Altman. UConn and Creighton had some great battles and they were 3-0 in one score games. I know the plan was always for him to retire either this year or next year, but this year had to be really tough on him as Creighton just had a lousy year. And as others here have said, the new NIL structure and the constant roster turnover, or potential for it, from season to season burns out coaches even more than before when the sit out 1-year transfer rule was in place. I know it got to Jay Wright as well.

Enjoy your retirement and golfing Big Mac.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Very good coach. Hope he has a long and productive retirement.

If he chooses he'd kill it as a studio guy or game analyst.

 

[boog204]

He is such a good x and o guy and game planner. We lost by almost 20 to them in 24, which is just mindboggling in retrospect.

 

[REB1094]

Sad to see. Was hoping he’d give it 1 more run after a disappointing season but he’s earned the right to make decisions on his own terms

Congrats on a great career!

 

[SwingDog]

Fantastic coach, and I've always appreciated the way he communicated with the media with class and dignity- win or lose. He represented Creighton and the Big East very well. Obviously, his teams always gave UConn a tough time (which I WON'T miss lol). I wish Coach Mac nothing but the very best in retirement.

 

[AllHusky]

If he chooses he'd kill it as a studio guy or game analyst.

would love to hear him discuss basketball, loved/hated watching him coach. He was a tough one!

 

[ConnZag3]

Sad to see. Was hoping he’d give it 1 more run after a disappointing season but he’s earned the right to make decisions on his own terms

Congrats on a great career!

Agree 100%. Didn't think he'd want to go out with such a tough season, but given the uncertainties of recruiting and portaling, who knows if next year would even be better or not.

Admittedly, I'm shocked he's retiring before Dougie, who's incredibly still getting some minor run in the NBA from time to time.

 

[lonsharkin51]

Wow. I actually called this on this board months ago (could look it up, but I’m lazy), but didn’t really think it would happen. Great coach. The Big East will be diminished by his absence.

 

[controlfade]

that is a huge loss for the conference

 

[mauconnfan]

Respect the hell out of Coach McDermott. Not only a class act, but a fantastic coach and basketball mind. Not only will the Big East miss him but all of college basketball will as well. We might see him on the weekend at a desk to help out?

Best wishes to him in retirement🙏👍🏻

 

[imno1]

One of my favorite coaches not named Calhoun or Hurley.

 

[HuskyHawk]

This seems like a solid hire.

 

[UConnJim]

This was signaled last year when Creighton hired High Point's head coach, Alan Huss, to be coach in waiting. Huss wouldn't have gone to Creighton if he didn't know McDermott was retiring after one or, at most, 2 seasons.

 

[Umami Zen]

Greg knew how to work the refs. His own style. Cracking jokes during timeouts before going into team huddles. Kinda guy you'd like to sit down with at the local pub or 19th hole and shoot the breeze with. Would want to make sure Bill Raftery could join for one beverage. LOL

 

[tuvent08]

Only 61. Caveats about health, etc., he should have a lot of time to enjoy doing whatever the heck he wants.

 

[Spaceman213J]

Nothing but respect for the man. I will actually miss facing him. He made UConn show up and play their best or suffer the consequences.
A few years ago, I think their thumping of us helped make the team realize they can't take nights/plays off and they went on a pretty good roll to a championship.

 

[CL82]

Like a lot of us, I'm sure, I'm kind of torn on this. It's definitely a loss for the big east, but I won't miss watching him, exploit the weaknesses in Hurley's system.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Classy coach, always enjoyed his (and many other BE coaches') camaraderie with Hurley.