Creighton Basketball Coach Suspended for Racially Insensitive Comments

Creighton University men’s basketball head coach has been suspended for making a racially offensive analogy to his players last week.

Greg McDermott faces disciplinary action after telling his players to “stay on the plantation” after losing to Xavier in a February 27th game, according to a report from ESPN.

In the report from the Worldwide Leader, Bruce Rasmussen, Creighton’s athletic director spoke with seniors leaders of the team before making the decision.

“Coach McDermott and the team have accepted that, effective immediately, he is suspended from all team activities. Further sanctions remain under consideration, not all of which will be shared publicly,” Rasmussen said in the issued press release.

He went on to add that assistant coach Al Huss will serve as interim head coach.

McDermott appeared on a pregame show earlier in the week and shared that he offered to resign from his position — one he’s held since 2010 and has won numerous coaching awards. He later released this statement through his Twitter account.

“Guys, we got to stick together. We need both feet in. I need everybody to stay on the plantation. I can’t have anybody leave the plantation,” McDermott said in his apology, reiterating the situation. “I immediately recognized my egregious mistake and quickly addressed my use of such insensitive words with the team,” he wrote. “I have never used that analogy, and it is not indicative of who I am as a person or as a coach. I’m deeply sorry.”

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

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