Greg McDermott, Creighton coach, reinstated after ‘plantation’ comments

Creighton has reinstated basketball coach Greg McDermott after he served a one-game suspension for making racially insensitive comments to his players in late February, the school announced Monday.

In a speech to his team following a Feb. 27 loss to Xavier, McDermott said he twice referenced a “plantation.” Creighton suspended McDermott — waiting one game to do so — for the regular season finale against Butler, which the Bluejays won by 20 points against Butler. McDermott will be back to coach his team in the Big East tournament.

“Let me be clear: Coach McDermott’s use of the ‘plantation’ analogy was egregious and has absolutely no place in our society. His remarks have caused significant hurt to many on our campus and in our community,” athletic director Bruce Rasmussen said in a statement.

“Through his immediate apology, ownership of his actions, difficult dialogue with his team and more, Coach McDermott has demonstrated a commitment to grow,” Rasmussen continued. “I believe his apology, his commitment to grow from this, to learn, and to regain the trust of his student-athletes and others impacted by his words.”

A statement from Creighton Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen regarding the Creighton Men’s Basketball Program: pic.twitter.com/tNBJqlxcMl

— Creighton University (@Creighton) March 8, 2021

Last week, McDermott described the speech he gave his players.

“Specifically, I said: ‘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 Tuesday.

He coached Wednesday before the school suspended him for one game on Thursday. Before Wednesday’s game, McDermott said on the Bluejays’ pregame show that he offered to resign for the comments. He said his players didn’t want that.

Before Saturday’s season finale, five players appeared on a pregame video to explain why McDermott’s comments were hurtful. Guard Marcus Zegarowski echoed his teammates’ comments postgame before explaining what McDermott means to him.

“A lot of guys in that locker room were hurting from it, and I was hurting from what he said,” Zegarowski said. “At the same time, Coach Mac has been a huge mentor for me, and I know he would take a bullet for me and everybody in that locker room, including the coaching staff.

“I know he made a really bad mistake with what he said. Only I know everything he’s done for me as a player, but more important as a human being. He loves me; he loves everybody in that locker room. That’s my coach; I love that dude. People make mistakes, and that’s my guy.”

McDermott has been at Creighton since 2010. The Bluejays are ranked No. 17 in the country and finished the regular season at 18-7.