Eustachy to team: My job is safe
Colorado FORT
State men’s basketball coach Larry Eustachy told his team this week that his job is safe, despite an ongoing investigation into his behavior, according to multiple sources inside the program.
Eustachy addressed his players before practice Tuesday and informed them that CSU president Tony Frank told Eustachy that his job was safe, the sources said. The sources requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation by Eustachy.
“He made it clear he wasn’t going anywhere and that the president told him that. And if you didn’t like it, you could leave yourself,” said a source who was in the meeting.
According to a CSU spokesman, “President Frank would not — and did not — make statements to anyone regarding the climate assessment of the men’s basketball program led by athletics director Joe Parker. To do so would compromise the integrity of Parker’s assessment, in which President Frank has complete confidence.”
Eustachy could not be reached to comment.
During the same team meeting, Eustachy told players and staff members that he knows who has his back and who doesn’t.
CSU announced Wednesday it was conducting an investigation of Eustachy in a “climate assessment” of the men’s basketball program. CSU has not said what prompted the investigation, which is still ongoing.
CSU players and staff members were interviewed Tuesday and Wednesday by Parker, deputy athletic director Steve Cottingham and compliance director Shalini Shanker regarding Eustachy’s conduct. Team members have told The Denver Post that Eustachy repeatedly singles out players and screams profanities at them during practice.
During practice Tuesday and Thursday and in the locker room during halftime and after Wednesday’s home game, no athletic department official oversaw the team while Eustachy was with it. Before the investigation started, an official — often Cottingham — shadowed Eustachy’s interactions with players in the locker room during the majority of games, including the team’s trip to Jamaica. CSU’s policy of having someone monitor Eustachy was put into effect in 2014 when an internal investigation determined Eustachy created a culture of fear and intimidation and emotionally abused players.
Cottingham did observe practice Friday morning, according to a source.
At the conclusion of the 2014 investigation, thenCSU athletic director Jack Graham recommended that Eustachy be fired. Frank overruled Graham.
When asked by The Denver Post after Wednesday night’s game against Wyoming if he believes he will remain the Rams’ coach through the end of the season, Eustachy said he couldn’t comment. Eustachy’s contract runs through the 2020-21 season.