Creighton University men’s basketball head coach, Greg McDermott, will soon have a building named in his honor.
On Thursday, June 20, the men’s basketball practice facility will be dedicated as the McDermott Center, recognizing Coach McDermott and his family. The renaming occurs nearly a decade after the facility originally opened.
Previously known as the Championship Center, the $13 million, 42,000-square-foot facility was unveiled in the summer of 2014 with significant fanfare. Over 500 donors contributed to its construction, led by a major gift from longtime Creighton supporters Ruth and Bill Scott.
The Scott family recently requested that the building be named after Coach McDermott, a long-time friend of Ruth and the late Bill Scott, who passed away in February at age 93.
“Our family is very proud of Coach McDermott and his positive impact on the men’s basketball program, players, and the entire Creighton community,” said John Scott, son of Bill and Ruth. “Having his name on the program’s practice facility honors this legacy.”
Creighton President Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, expressed his admiration and gratitude for the Scott family’s generosity. “They have supported Creighton men’s basketball, women Bluejay athletes, and a wide range of academic programs and facilities. I congratulate Coach McDermott and his family on this special recognition.”
Coach McDermott shared his appreciation, stating, “I am humbled by the decision to rename such a great facility in honor of my family. The philanthropy of Bill, Ruth, and the entire Scott family continues to transform Creighton University and all of Omaha.”
As Coach McDermott prepares for his 15th season, he has led the Bluejays to nine NCAA Tournaments, including three Sweet 16 appearances and a 2023 Elite Eight. His 325 wins are just two shy of a program record, including 19 postseason victories and 39 wins over Top 25 teams.
The McDermott family has significantly impacted college basketball, with Greg’s wife, Theresa McDermott, inspiring the Creighton vs. Cancer Pink Out game. Since 2011, this tradition has raised over $600,000 for cancer research. In 2018, Greg McDermott received the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Coaches vs. Cancer Champions Award.
Greg and Theresa are parents to Nick, Doug, and Sydney. Nick works in the golf industry and serves as a caddie on the PGA Tour. Sydney is pursuing her graduate degree from the University of Kansas after earning her undergraduate degree there. Doug McDermott, BSBA’14, recently completed his 10th NBA season and was a standout player at Creighton.
Doug McDermott expressed his gratitude, saying, “I could not be more grateful to the Scotts for their generosity and recognition of our family. Creighton is a special place and home to so many fond memories.”
The McDermott Center, part of Creighton’s east-campus athletics corridor, features two basketball courts, a players’ lounge, video/lecture room, hydrotherapy room, underwater treadmill, polar-plunge pool, and centers for athletic performance and academic resources for all Creighton student-athletes. Coach McDermott’s office overlooks the Kyle Korver, BA’03, Courts.
BIG EAST Conference commissioner Val Ackerman praised Creighton’s athletic facilities during a visit, calling them among the best in the conference.
The McDermott Center also honors its past with assistant coaches’ offices named after legendary predecessors like Dana Altman, Tony Barone, Tom Apke, Eddie Sutton, and John “Red” McManus.
Donors Wayne Ryan, Connie Ryan, Rhonda, and Howard Hawks, and a gift from the Peter Kiewit Foundation, contributed significantly to the McDermott Center’s construction and Creighton’s athletic corridor.
Bill and Ruth Scott have transformed Creighton Athletics through their generosity, supporting facilities like the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center and D.J. Sokol Arena, the Ruth Scott Training Center, and the Rasmussen Fitness and Sports Center.
“The Scott family has changed Creighton Athletics forever,” said Marcus Blossom, McCormick Endowed Athletic Director. “Their support of programs, scholarships, and these top-tier facilities continues to be essential for our student-athletes competing at the highest level.”
The Scott family has also donated tens of millions of dollars to over 100 organizations since 1999. At Creighton, their contributions have supported the School of Dentistry, the Werner Center for Health Sciences Education, scholarships, and innovative services across multiple schools and colleges.
At the 2014 dedication of what is now the McDermott Center, Bill Scott said, “We understand that it is a privilege and obligation to support others, especially student-athletes, where they can pursue athletic and academic excellence in the best college environment possible. Creighton is that university.”
