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Kevin McKenna returned to Creighton on Friday with the idea that it could help him become an NCAA Division I head basketball coach.

Kevin McKenna

But Creighton coach Dana Altman and athletic director Bruce Rasmussen said McKenna's hiring as an assistant doesn't mean Altman's eventual successor has been put in place.

"Absolutely nothing like that has been discussed," Altman said. "I wouldn't try to influence the university in any way like that. Brian Fish would be a good head coach, and so would Darian DeVries. Kevin was hired to be an assistant coach."

McKenna, 46, took the University of Nebraska at Omaha to unprecedented heights in his four-year stay, winning 89 games and leading the Mavs to three Division II tournaments and two North Central Conference titles.

McKenna at UNO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin McKenna's head-coaching record with the University of Nebraska at Omaha men's basketball team:

2001-2002...*24-9

2002-2003...20-10

2003-2004...*22-8

2004-2005...*23-6

Totals...89-33

*Earned NCAA Division II regional berths. NCC regular-season champs in 2004 and 2005.

He resigned Friday to fill the opening created at Creighton when Greg Grensing left for a position at UNLV in May. He joins Fish and DeVries on the Bluejay staff.

Derrin Hansen, a seven-year assistant coach, has been named the interim coach at UNO.

"It was a tough decision," McKenna said. "There are very few people I would leave this job to go work for, and Dana is one of them. I have a lot of respect for him. I'm flattered he offered me the job because of how good a coach I think he is."

McKenna played for Creighton and spent seven years as an assistant under Altman, from 1994 through 2001.

Altman said McKenna offered the best of both worlds when it comes to hiring an assistant coach.

"You're looking for new energy - somebody to spark the staff - and you're always hoping for continuity," he said. "Kevin will give us a little of both."

Altman, 47, has been on the short list of several major conference teams with head coaching openings. He said he "wouldn't hire anybody who I didn't think has the potential" to be a head coach.

Altman said McKenna, Fish and DeVries are all considered equals, with none designated as the No. 1 assistant. Fish is the recruiting coordinator.

McKenna made just under $80,000 at UNO. Both Altman and McKenna declined to say what his Creighton salary would be.

"It is what it is," McKenna said. "I'm comfortable with it."

In McKenna's first stay as a CU assistant, his duties as the since-eliminated "restricted earnings coach" limited him to on-campus recruiting. He will now be able to recruit off campus.

"The one hole I have in my r

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Kevin McKenna returned to Creighton on Friday with the idea that it could help him become an NCAA Division I head basketball coach.

   

Kevin McKenna

But Creighton coach Dana Altman and athletic director Bruce Rasmussen said McKenna's hiring as an assistant doesn't mean Altman's eventual successor has been put in place.

"Absolutely nothing like that has been discussed," Altman said. "I wouldn't try to influence the university in any way like that. Brian Fish would be a good head coach, and so would Darian DeVries. Kevin was hired to be an assistant coach."

McKenna, 46, took the University of Nebraska at Omaha to unprecedented heights in his four-year stay, winning 89 games and leading the Mavs to three Division II tournaments and two North Central Conference titles.

McKenna at UNO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin McKenna's head-coaching record with the University of Nebraska at Omaha men's basketball team:

2001-2002...*24-9

2002-2003...20-10

2003-2004...*22-8

2004-2005...*23-6

Totals...89-33

*Earned NCAA Division II regional berths. NCC regular-season champs in 2004 and 2005.

 

He resigned Friday to fill the opening created at Creighton when Greg Grensing left for a position at UNLV in May. He joins Fish and DeVries on the Bluejay staff.

Derrin Hansen, a seven-year assistant coach, has been named the interim coach at UNO.

"It was a tough decision," McKenna said. "There are very few people I would leave this job to go work for, and Dana is one of them. I have a lot of respect for him. I'm flattered he offered me the job because of how good a coach I think he is."

McKenna played for Creighton and spent seven years as an assistant under Altman, from 1994 through 2001.

Altman said McKenna offered the best of both worlds when it comes to hiring an assistant coach.

"You're looking for new energy - somebody to spark the staff - and you're always hoping for continuity," he said. "Kevin will give us a little of both."

Altman, 47, has been on the short list of several major conference teams with head coaching openings. He said he "wouldn't hire anybody who I didn't think has the potential" to be a head coach.

Altman said McKenna, Fish and DeVries are all considered equals, with none designated as the No. 1 assistant. Fish is the recruiting coordinator.

McKenna made just under $80,000 at UNO. Both Altman and McKenna declined to say what his Creighton salary would be.

"It is what it is," McKenna said. "I'm comfortable with it."

In McKenna's first stay as a CU assistant, his duties as the since-eliminated "restricted earnings coach" limited him to on-campus recruiting. He will now be able to recruit off campus.

"The one hole I have in my r

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