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Larry Eustachy Out

Was it the right decision?

By Mike Oseroff

Mike Oseroff is Youth Radio’s resident sports commentator and columnist. Keep checking this space for his weekly updates! You can email him at sports@youthradio.org.

Like hamburgers and French fries, presents and Christmas, and Batman and Robin, few things in our culture go hand and hand like college and drinking. And while many people regard college parties as all fun and good times, some things just aren’t very funny. Like a 47-year old college basketball coach, who is married with children, partying with students from a rival school immediately following a loss to their team. That’s not funny. In fact, that’s so downright creepy it’s enough to stop the music and make the kegs run dry. And that’s exactly what happened to Iowa State Head Basketball Coach Larry Eustachy a week ago.

Yes, as ridiculous as it may seem, the 2000 National Coach of the Year made a big mistake at a January 22nd drink-a-thon — he let someone take pictures of him — and a week ago, like most incriminating photographs do, they showed up on the front page of the paper in all their glory. Gracing the cover of Iowa’s Des Moines Register, the photos unmistakably showed Eustachy mingling with 20-year-olds, holding beers, and kissing some young, attractive college coeds at a student’s apartment in Columbia, Missouri.

Eustachy and his Iowa State Cyclones had lost an away game to Missouri just hours before the party. According to an article printed with the pictures, the coach showed up with Missouri player Josh Kroenke (Eustachy and Kroenke’s father are friends), drank several beers, made disparaging remarks about his team, verbally abused a partygoer who objected to his presence there, and made a pass at several young girls before the residents of the apartment called a cab for him. Not bad for a night’s work. Also in the article was an account from a Kansas State student, who claimed Eustachy had showed up at a frat party in 2002, also following a Cyclone loss. She was quoted as saying that the coach commented on her looks and asked where she was from. When she replied that she hailed from Lawrence, Kansas, site of Kansas University, Eustachy asked why she didn’t attend KU and remarked, “The girls there are much hotter, you belong there.”

This behavior raised some eyebrows to say the least, and Eustachy’s job was on the line. He admitted he is an alcoholic, was extremely remorseful, and intended to enter rehab and hopefully regain his credibility. So the issue was, should Eustachy be allowed a second chance and another shot at head coach, or should he be dropped like a bad habit? For a week the world debated while Larry pleaded his case, and finally on Monday the school made its decision: Coach Eustachy is done at Iowa State.

The question is, was it the right choice?

First off, it is worth mentioning that Larry Eustachy had a great track record. It isn’t as if we are talking about some unknown drunk from a Division 4 school — at least he had some credentials. To go along with his National Coach of The Year award for 2000, he won back-to-back Big 12 Conference Championships in 2000 and 2001, and coached his squad to the Elite Eight in the NCCA Tournament three years ago. He had over 250 wins under his belt, including 101 in five seasons in Iowa, and became the state’s highest paid employee, receiving over $1.1 million a year. What I’m saying is, he’s not easily replaceable.

To go along with all of that, Eustachy made a firm promise to enter rehabilitation and pursue a life of sobriety. He acknowledged he had a serious drinking problem, and was willing to go the extra mile to conquer it. So what is wrong with giving him another shot? Surely an athlete caught in a situation such as his would be allowed one. Heck, the NFL has given convicted criminals opportunities to clear their slates with second chances. Why not Larry?

Why? Because he is a 47-year-old coach. We aren’t talking about a young and naive college athlete. This guy is pushing 50 and is in wedlock with two kids to go along with it. He should definitely know better. As a respected member of his school, his community, and his state, he has an obligation to set a good example. And what he did was immature and disgusting.

As far as his “promise” to better his life, it all too suspiciously seems insincere. He has undoubtedly been aware of his addiction, yet waited until it was exposed to the whole world before he suddenly felt obligated to get treatment for it. Funny how that works.

What should also be noted is the fact that Eustachy wasn’t just partying, he was partying with young, drunk, college girls. If you were the highest paid employee in your entire state, you could easily afford the finest champagne, and could throw your own party every night if you wanted to. Yet Eustachy chose to drink the cheapest beer and get down with kids younger than half his age. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Eustachy had more than just a drinking problem — and that may very well be the case.

And finally, what about his players, the people whose performances on the court are putting the extra zeroes in his monthly paycheck? Playing college ball is a big step up from high school. You are nationally televised. You are scouted. You are on ESPN. Your every move is analyzed. The pressure to perform well and stay composed is very strong, and your coach is supposed to be the one to help you through it. How do you think the kids felt when they realized the man they looked up to couldn’t even take care of himself? What do you think Eustachy was saying in the huddle in crunch time in the fourth quarter of the Missouri game? “Guys, I want you to play your hearts out and leave it all on the floor, but if you don’t, it’s still okay because I’m going to party with the other team when this game is over.”

As a player, seeing your coach do something like that is no doubt disheartening, and it isn’t right for the spirit and competitive nature of basketball.

So I conclude by saying Iowa State did the right thing be cutting Larry Eustachy. Everyone is entitled to mistakes, but the circumstances call for what is in the best interest for the players, the school, and the community: to instate a positive role model to represent them. Sure it’s a little unfair that he doesn’t get another shot, but frankly I don’t think he needs one. Seems as if he’s taken a few too many “shots” for his own good already.

Check out more of Mike's columns!