Creighton men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott, who previously apologized for urging his players to “stay on the plantation” in a post-match locker room discussion following a weekend loss, said Wednesday that he offered to resign because of his comments.
McDermott declared, during Creighton’s pre-match radio show, before a 72-60 loss to no. 10 Villanova, that he had a long meeting with the players on Sunday night and said that he saw “pain in front of them” and hoped that “a mistake did not”. I don’t define you. “
McDermott said he wants to make sure the Bluejays want to remain coach and apologized for “distracting me from this team for the choice I made.”
McDermott said the Bluejays – whose players wear “equality” on the backs of their shirts – did not demand his resignation.
“Our boys wanted to train 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, “Guys, we need to stay together. We need both legs. I need everyone to stay on the plantation. “No one must leave the plantation.”
The coach added that he apologized directly to President Creighton, Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, and athletic director Bruce Rasmussen.
Creighton assistant coach Terrence Rencher, who is black, wrote on Twitter that he was “deeply hurt” by McDermott’s words.
The school said any disciplinary action would remain confidential.
McDermott was on the sidelines and received a fist from the apparent, except for one player while running away from the field from the warm-ups before the game.
McDermott’s racially insensitive comments overshadowed what was expected to be a fantastic showdown between the top two teams in the Big East. Instead, the Wildcats joined with a 19-point advantage and won their seventh regular-season title under coach Jay Wright in the past eight seasons.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.