Jim Flanery - Women's Basketball
Jim Flanery
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- flan@creighton.edu
- Phone:
- (402) 280-5577
Jim Flanery begins his 25th year as Creighton’s head coach in 2026-27, taking the Bluejays to eight NCAA Tournament runs. Flanery is Creighton’s all-time victory leader, entering the season with a record of 469-290 (.618).
Flanery has guided Creighton to eight of the 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in women’s basketball history, reaching the Big Dance in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024 and again in 2025.
The 2021-22 campaign was historic for the Bluejays as Creighton reached the Elite Eight with victories over Colorado, at No. 8 Iowa and over No. 10 Iowa State. Creighton also reached the NCAA Second Round in 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2024, as well as claiming the program’s first BIG EAST regular-season title in 2017.
Under Flanery, the Bluejays have reached 20 wins or more 13 times and have been to the postseason 19 times, including a stretch of 11 consecutive years from 2008-2018. Flanery also led Creighton to a pair of appearances in the WNIT Final Four (2003 & 2004), capturing the 2004 WNIT Championship. Flanery has four conference titles, earning the BIG EAST regular-season crown in 2017, Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships in 2003 and 2013, and the 2012 MVC Tournament Championship.
Prior to Flanery’s tenure, Creighton teams made 200 three-pointers in a single season twice. Including 2025-26, the Bluejays have eclipsed 200 treys in a season during 20 of his 24 campaigns at the helm, including a single-season record with 334 trifectas in 2021-22.
Flanery’s scheduling philosophy has always been to improve, “you must face tough opposition.” During Flanery’s 24 seasons, Creighton has played 68 ranked opponents, including three during the 2025-26 season. The dividends of his approach was never more apparent than during the Bluejays’ NCAA Tournament run in 2021-22. Creighton went into Carver-Hawkeye Arena as the No. 10 seed,
upsetting Colorado and taking down No. 8 Iowa in front of over 14,000 fans in black and gold.
The motion offense Flanery uses is built on forcing defenses to defend for long possessions. One of the driving forces in Creighton’s success in 2021-22 was the ability to share the basketball. The Bluejays led the nation in assists (668), assists per game (20.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.59). The Bluejays also shot the ball tremendously well, closing the season fifth in three-pointers made (334) and third in three-pointers per game (10.1)
His engaging personality and exciting coaching style have made the Bluejays increasingly visible in the community. The Bluejays moved into D.J. Sokol Arena inside the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center prior to the 2009-10 season and have posted an impressive 164-56 record in the venue.
Under Flanery, the Bluejays have compiled a 237-85 record at home. Fans have responded to the success, setting single-game and average attendance records. The top two home crowds and eight of the top-10 crowds in school history have come during Flanery’s reign. Fans set a home attendance record in 2024-25 with 2,417 fans per game, including a single-game mark of 11,141 against #6 Connecticut in CHI Health Center Omaha on Jan. 25, 2025.
Garnering athletic and academic notoriety is the standard set during the Flanery era. The Bluejays have been in the WBCA Academic Top-25 nine times, including a No. 6 ranking in 2024-25, a No. 4 ranking in 2010-11, a No. 5 ranking in the 2009-10, and a No. 9 in 2017-18. Three players have earned CSC Academic All-America honors, highlighted by Morgan Maly claiming the recognition in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
A total of 18 players earned All-MVC First Team Scholar-Athletes under Flanery. The Bluejays’ success on the court was on display during the 2023-24 season as Creighton appeared in the final 16 and 18-of-20 Associated Press polls.
During Flanery’s tenure, Bluejay players have continued to earn individual accolades including All-American honors by Marissa Janning (2014), Jaylyn Agnew (2020) and Lauren Jensen (2025), a Freshman All-American nod (Janning, 2013), two Preseason All-American honors (Angie Janis, 2005 & Christy Neneman in 2003), three conference Player of the Year awards by Neneman (2003) Janning (2014) and Agnew (2020), three conference Freshman of the Year honors from Agnew (2017), Janning (2013) & Carli Tritz (2011), a conference Newcomer of the Year from Megan Neuvirth (2007), three Defensive Player of the Year honors (Laura Spanheimer (2003 & 2004) as well as Neuvirth (2009)), 26 First Team All-Conference (MVC & BIG EAST) selections and in 2020 Agnew became the first Bluejay selected in the WNBA Draft.
In addition, Spanheimer became the first player in MVC history to be named to the all-defensive team four times. Spanheimer also earned WNIT All-Tournament recognition twice. Neneman was tabbed the 2004 WNIT Most Valuable Player.
Flanery became the Bluejays head coach on July 19, 2002. He is the sixth head coach in women’s hoops history at Creighton, and just the third since 1980. He succeeded mentor, Connie Yori, who he had been on staff with since his graduate assistant days at Creighton in the late 1980s.
Following graduation, Flanery joined former McCormick Endowed Director of Athletics Bruce Rasmussen’s Bluejay coaching staff as a graduate assistant for the 1987-88 season. He remained on the Creighton women’s basketball staff through the 1989-90 season, before joining Yori at Loras College (Iowa) for two seasons prior to the 1990-91 season.
When Yori was tabbed as the head coach at Creighton prior to the 1992-93 season, Flanery once again joined forces to continue the winning tradition set by Rasmussen. As Yori’s top assistant, Flanery and the Bluejays notched a 170-115 record in a 10-year span, making two appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
A 1987 Creighton graduate with a BA in philosophy, Flanery was a member of the Bluejay men’s basketball team from 1985-87 and was also a member of the Creighton men’s golf team. Flanery and his wife Emily have two children, Jackson and Brynn. Flanery is originally from Guthrie Center, Iowa.
Flanery has guided Creighton to eight of the 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in women’s basketball history, reaching the Big Dance in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024 and again in 2025.
The 2021-22 campaign was historic for the Bluejays as Creighton reached the Elite Eight with victories over Colorado, at No. 8 Iowa and over No. 10 Iowa State. Creighton also reached the NCAA Second Round in 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2024, as well as claiming the program’s first BIG EAST regular-season title in 2017.
Under Flanery, the Bluejays have reached 20 wins or more 13 times and have been to the postseason 19 times, including a stretch of 11 consecutive years from 2008-2018. Flanery also led Creighton to a pair of appearances in the WNIT Final Four (2003 & 2004), capturing the 2004 WNIT Championship. Flanery has four conference titles, earning the BIG EAST regular-season crown in 2017, Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships in 2003 and 2013, and the 2012 MVC Tournament Championship.
Prior to Flanery’s tenure, Creighton teams made 200 three-pointers in a single season twice. Including 2025-26, the Bluejays have eclipsed 200 treys in a season during 20 of his 24 campaigns at the helm, including a single-season record with 334 trifectas in 2021-22.
Flanery’s scheduling philosophy has always been to improve, “you must face tough opposition.” During Flanery’s 24 seasons, Creighton has played 68 ranked opponents, including three during the 2025-26 season. The dividends of his approach was never more apparent than during the Bluejays’ NCAA Tournament run in 2021-22. Creighton went into Carver-Hawkeye Arena as the No. 10 seed,
upsetting Colorado and taking down No. 8 Iowa in front of over 14,000 fans in black and gold.
The motion offense Flanery uses is built on forcing defenses to defend for long possessions. One of the driving forces in Creighton’s success in 2021-22 was the ability to share the basketball. The Bluejays led the nation in assists (668), assists per game (20.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.59). The Bluejays also shot the ball tremendously well, closing the season fifth in three-pointers made (334) and third in three-pointers per game (10.1)
His engaging personality and exciting coaching style have made the Bluejays increasingly visible in the community. The Bluejays moved into D.J. Sokol Arena inside the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center prior to the 2009-10 season and have posted an impressive 164-56 record in the venue.
Under Flanery, the Bluejays have compiled a 237-85 record at home. Fans have responded to the success, setting single-game and average attendance records. The top two home crowds and eight of the top-10 crowds in school history have come during Flanery’s reign. Fans set a home attendance record in 2024-25 with 2,417 fans per game, including a single-game mark of 11,141 against #6 Connecticut in CHI Health Center Omaha on Jan. 25, 2025.
Garnering athletic and academic notoriety is the standard set during the Flanery era. The Bluejays have been in the WBCA Academic Top-25 nine times, including a No. 6 ranking in 2024-25, a No. 4 ranking in 2010-11, a No. 5 ranking in the 2009-10, and a No. 9 in 2017-18. Three players have earned CSC Academic All-America honors, highlighted by Morgan Maly claiming the recognition in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
A total of 18 players earned All-MVC First Team Scholar-Athletes under Flanery. The Bluejays’ success on the court was on display during the 2023-24 season as Creighton appeared in the final 16 and 18-of-20 Associated Press polls.
During Flanery’s tenure, Bluejay players have continued to earn individual accolades including All-American honors by Marissa Janning (2014), Jaylyn Agnew (2020) and Lauren Jensen (2025), a Freshman All-American nod (Janning, 2013), two Preseason All-American honors (Angie Janis, 2005 & Christy Neneman in 2003), three conference Player of the Year awards by Neneman (2003) Janning (2014) and Agnew (2020), three conference Freshman of the Year honors from Agnew (2017), Janning (2013) & Carli Tritz (2011), a conference Newcomer of the Year from Megan Neuvirth (2007), three Defensive Player of the Year honors (Laura Spanheimer (2003 & 2004) as well as Neuvirth (2009)), 26 First Team All-Conference (MVC & BIG EAST) selections and in 2020 Agnew became the first Bluejay selected in the WNBA Draft.
In addition, Spanheimer became the first player in MVC history to be named to the all-defensive team four times. Spanheimer also earned WNIT All-Tournament recognition twice. Neneman was tabbed the 2004 WNIT Most Valuable Player.
Flanery became the Bluejays head coach on July 19, 2002. He is the sixth head coach in women’s hoops history at Creighton, and just the third since 1980. He succeeded mentor, Connie Yori, who he had been on staff with since his graduate assistant days at Creighton in the late 1980s.
Following graduation, Flanery joined former McCormick Endowed Director of Athletics Bruce Rasmussen’s Bluejay coaching staff as a graduate assistant for the 1987-88 season. He remained on the Creighton women’s basketball staff through the 1989-90 season, before joining Yori at Loras College (Iowa) for two seasons prior to the 1990-91 season.
When Yori was tabbed as the head coach at Creighton prior to the 1992-93 season, Flanery once again joined forces to continue the winning tradition set by Rasmussen. As Yori’s top assistant, Flanery and the Bluejays notched a 170-115 record in a 10-year span, making two appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
A 1987 Creighton graduate with a BA in philosophy, Flanery was a member of the Bluejay men’s basketball team from 1985-87 and was also a member of the Creighton men’s golf team. Flanery and his wife Emily have two children, Jackson and Brynn. Flanery is originally from Guthrie Center, Iowa.
Wednesday, October 28
Tuesday, October 27
Tuesday, October 27
Tuesday, October 27
