Colorado State men’s basketball head coach Larry Eustachy is set to be fired by the program after violating a zero tolerance policy for abusive behavior directed at his players and staff, according to the Denver Post.
Colorado State basketball boycotted practice after finding out on Twitter that their coach was axed
Larry Eustachy’s impending firing has Colorado State basketball in flux.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Colorado State’s players aren’t happy about the way the university has handled the situation. Players reportedly found out on Twitter that Eustachy was placed on administrative leave on Saturday, just hours before a game against Mountain West-leading Nevada. Another report says the team had taken issue with the decision to name assistant Steve Barnes interim coach.
According to a report from the Denver Post, Eustachy told his players that his job was safe and that he had been directly told as much by CSU President Tony Frank.
Barnes has worked with Eustachy for 22 years and has been described as his “right-hand guy.”
Eustachy is losing his job for creating an “atmosphere of fear and intimidation” throughout the program. Barnes has reportedly played a role in that. From Mountain West Connection:
It’s also been noted by players within the Colorado State program that Eustachy and Barnes, who are old friends and played college basketball together at Chico State, are extremely similar in terms of their personality and that the duo “coach basically the same”. Barnes himself commented that it’s been “business as usual” for the program since he’s been given the reigns, although adding that he is not allowed to comment on the current situation regarding Eustachy. Players within the Colorado State program also aren’t allowed to communicate with Eustachy during his current leave either.
This is not the first time Eustachy has been in trouble at Colorado State. He was the subject of a university investigation in 2013-14 centered on accusations of fear and intimidation. He was given a zero tolerance policy from the program at the time. He’s now set to be fired for violating that policy after similar claims.
Eustachy was also involved in a scandal during his time at Iowa State for partying with college students.
Colorado State is 10-16 this season in Eustachy’s sixth year with the program. Eustachy has led the Rams to success, making the NCAA tournament in his first season and winning 24 games or more three times in his first five seasons.
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