Greg McDermott, men’s basketball coach, had earlier apologized for urging his players to ‘stay on the plantation’ in a locker room conversation after a loss at the weekend, and on Wednesday said he had offered to resign over his commentary.
McDermott appeared in Creighton’s pre-show radio program before a 72-60 loss to no. 10 Villanova said he had a long meeting with the players on Sunday night and said he sees’ pain in their face (s) ‘and hopes that’ one mistake does not define you. “
McDermott said he wants to make sure the Bluejays want him to stay as coach and apologized for the “distraction I brought to this team for the choice I made.”
McDermott said the Bluejays – whose players wear an “equality” on the back of their jerseys – are not asking him to resign.
“Our guys wanted me to coach, and that’s my job,” McDermott said.
McDermott has been Creighton’s coach since 2010. McDermott, who is white, admitted that after a loss to Xavier on Saturday, he said: ‘Guys, we need to stay together. We need both feet. I need everyone to stay on the plantation. I can no one leave the plantation. ‘
The coach added that he immediately apologized to Creighton’s president, Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, and athletic director Bruce Rasmussen.
Creighton assistant coach Terrence Rencher, who is Black, tweeted that he was “deeply hurt” by McDermott’s words.
The school said any disciplinary action would remain confidential.
McDermott was on the sidelines and had a fistfight of apparently all but one player when they ran away from court from warm-ups in the foreplay.
McDermott’s race-sensitive remarks overshadowed a fantastic showdown between the top two teams in the Great East. The Wildcats have led by 19 points and have won their seventh title under coach Jay Wright over the past eight seasons.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.