Oregon finally has its guy.
Creighton coach Dana Altman was introduced at a news conference in Eugene on Monday. The deal is for seven years that will pay Altman less than $2 million per season.
The Ducks have struck out with big names such as Gonzaga’s Mark Few, Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon, Butler’s Brad Stevens and Missouri’s Mike Anderson since parting ways with Ernie Kent last month.
Discussions began with Altman and former Oregon athletic director Pat Kilkenny, who led the search, last week.
Altman is considered one of the top X’s and O’s guys in the country and built Creighton into a mid-major power, going to seven NCAA tournaments in the span of nine years before falling off a bit over the past three seasons and failing to reach the Big Dance.
Altman is 327-176 overall in 16 seasons at Creighton and has taken the program to seven NCAA tournaments. He led the Bluejays to 11 consecutive 20-win seasons before going 18-16 this past year.
Altman, 51, also spent four seasons at Kansas State from 1990-94 in which he was 68-54 and spent one year as the head coach at Marshall.
Altman verbally agreed to take the Arkansas job three years after but decided to return to Creighton shortly after arriving in Fayetteville.
Altman takes over for Kent, who was 235-173 in 13 years at the helm at Oregon, but just 24-39 over the past two seasons.
The Ducks were 16-16 this past season and three returning players — Matthew Humphrey, Drew Wiley and Josh Crittle — have received their releases and are looking to transfer.
However, Altman will still have a shot to keep two local stars at home as Terrence Jones and Terrence Ross are set to make their college decisions in the next week.
