Creighton close to hiring ISU's Greg McDermott?

AMES -- Iowa State men's basketball coach Greg McDermott is reportedly the leading candidate for the vacant job at Creighton, and according to one report Sunday night, has already accepted the position.

Omaha television station KMTV reported the ISU coach has agreed to a 10-year, $9 million offer from the Bluejays, who lost longtime coach Dana Altman to Oregon on Saturday.

Here's another report on the situation from the Omaha World-Herald.

No public statements have come from either school or McDermott.

More information will surely be available Monday, when McDermott is expected to give Creighton Athletic Director Bruce Rasumussen an answer.

Reports had Rasumussen spotted at a West Des Moines hotel Sunday.

McDermott has a record of 59-68 overall and 18-46 in Big 12 Conference games in his four seasons. The coach has fallen out of  favor with some fans following last year's disappointing 15-17 record and the continued trend of top players leaving the program.

Cyclone AD Jamie Pollard gave McDermott a vote of confidence before the conference tournament last month and spoke publicly that the hard luck coach would turn things around sooner than later.

"There is no question in my mind that Coach McDermott and his staff do it the right way, and the way Iowa Staters would want it to be done,” Pollard said at the time. “The wins will hopefully come.”

McDermott, 45, is under contract through the 2014-15 season. A review of his contract states he would have to pay ISU $800,000 for taking another Division I or NBA head coaching job before the deal runs out.

McDermott earned a salary of $950,000 this year.

He just added two assistants to his coaching staff last week in Iowa Energy coach Nick Nurse and former Cyclone great Jeff Grayer. Nurse was hired as the associate head coach.

A little over a week ago McDermott talked to The Gazette about persevering through the recent adversity with players and coaches leaving the program.

“This is a bump in the road. We will get through it," McDermott said. "If you decide you are going to be a coach for a living, sleepless nights go with it. I've got a good support staff around me who are committed and loyal to this program. Together, we'll keep moving it forward."

McDermott had great success in the Missouri Valley Conference, leading Northern Iowa to a 90-63 record and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances before taking the ISU job in 2006.

Creighton went 18-16 last season and 10-8 in conference play. The Bluejays have made 13 straight postseason appearances.

Strangely enough, ISU and Creighton are scheduled to play one another next season at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Check back with Gazette Online on Monday for updates.