Colorado State’s Eustachy on leave

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State placed men’s basketball coach Larry Eustachy on administrative leave Saturday while the school assesses the program, a decision that again raises questions about his conduct.

Athletic director Joe Parker said he “asked” the coach to “temporarily step away” while the university gets a better understanding of the “climate” surrounding the team.

Assistant coach Steve Barnes led the Rams in Saturday’s game against Nevada and will be in charge “until the assessment is complete.” Eustachy is under contract through the 2020-21 season.

“We are diligently working through this assessment as expeditiously as possible, understanding the importance of a thorough and fair process,” Parker said in a released statement. “No conclusions have been made.”

On Wednesday, Parker said the school was evaluating the team by talking to associated students and staff. Parker offered no further information. That came after an online report by former Rocky Mountain Collegian sports editor Justin Michael, who said Parker was interviewing players about Eustachy’s conduct.

Eustachy coached that night, with the Rams losing 91-86 to Wyoming in double overtime.

It was reported last year the university looked into Eustachy’s conduct in 2013-14, finding he created an atmosphere of “fear and intimidation” among players. In documents obtained by the Coloradoan and posted online a year ago, Eustachy acknowledged he “crossed the line” when asked about the atmosphere within the program by former athletic director Jack Graham. The documents also said the coach called players derogatory names and threw chairs, drink cans and erasers.