Greg McDermott suspended by Creighton after insensitive to racism comments

Creighton’s men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott has been suspended from all team activities for race-insensitive comments he addressed to his players last week, the school reported Thursday night.

The decision came two days after the school said any disciplinary action would be kept confidential.

“After our men’s Creighton basketball team returned to Omaha earlier today, Father Hendrickson and I engaged with other senior leaders in a dialogue and discussion regarding the appropriate penalties for the remarks made by men’s basketball head coach Greg McDermott that did not match Creighton’s commitment to racial fairness, diversity and respect, ”athletic director Bruce Rasmussen said in a statement.“ Coach McDermott and the team have agreed that, with immediate effect, he will be suspended from all team activities, including Saturday’s home season final against Butler. Other sanctions remain under consideration, not all of which will be shared publicly.

“Coach McDermott and our athletic program must use this incident as an opportunity for growth and learning as there is clearly more work to be done.”

McDermott apologized on Tuesday for referring to a “plantation” to his players following a loss to Xavier last week.

“Specifically, I said, ‘Guys, we have to stay together. We need both feet. I need everyone to stay on the plantation. I can’t let anyone leave the plantation, ”McDermott said.

McDermott said on Creighton’s pre-game radio show on Wednesday – before coaching the Bluejays against Villanova – that he had offered to step down following his comments. He said the players did not ask him to quit.

“Our guys wanted me to coach, and that’s my job,” McDermott said.

After Creighton announced the suspension on Thursday, McDermott took to social media and said he thought the school’s decision was the right one.

“I made a mistake and I own it” he tweeted. “Mistakes have consequences, and I accept and agree with the suspension.”

McDermott has been Creighton’s head coach since 2010. Prior to taking over from the Bluejays, he spent a decade as a head coach in the states of Iowa, northern Iowa and North Dakota.

Creighton, No. 14 in this week’s AP poll, fell to 17-7 overall and 13-6 in the Big East after losing back-to-back losses to Xavier and Villanova. Assistant Al Huss will serve as interim head coach in McDermott’s absence.