Dana Altman's greatest achievement before he retired? Lifting Creighton out of the mud in the '90s
Oregon men's basketball coach Dana Altman won 792 games in his Division I coaching career. He made perhaps his biggest impact at Creighton, in his home state of Nebraska.
Dana Altman's greatest achievement before retiring was undoubtedly his role in revitalizing Creighton basketball in the 1990s. As a young sports writer for the Creighton University student newspaper in 1994, Altman witnessed the decline of the Bluejays under coach Rick Johnson, whose teams struggled with dismal records and dwindling support.
When Altman took over in 1995, the Bluejays had not been competitive for years, often drawing empty seats at the old Civic Auditorium. Altman, however, proved to be a transformative force. He attracted a superstar in Rodney Buford, who would become a cornerstone of the program, and attracted other high-quality players like Ben Walker, Ryan Sears, Nate Funk, and Kyle Korver.
Under Altman's leadership, Creighton had its first winning season in over a decade in 1995-96, and proceeded to win at least 20 games for 11 consecutive years. His Bluejays reached the NCAA Tournament three times, with the best showing being an appearance in the Final Four in 2017. Altman's impact extended beyond the court, as he helped to reinvigorate interest in Creighton basketball, making games exciting again for fans.
The success under Altman's guidance marked a significant turning point for the program, and his legacy at Creighton is one of renewal and growth.
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