On the same day Larry Eustachy announced to the public he is an alcoholic, his boss recommended he be fired from his position as men’s basketball coach.

That news came at a press conference at roughly 4:30 p.m. Wednesday when ISU athletic director Bruce Van De Velde read a written statement regarding his decision on Eustachy’s fate at Iowa State. It was about three hours after Eustachy held a press conference of his own, where he admitted he is an alcoholic and receiving counseling.

“I cannot and do not condone Coach Eustachy’s behavior,” said Van De Velde as he read the statement.

“Regardless of the reason, we have a right to expect better from such a prominent member of the Iowa State community. Accordingly, a university attorney informed Coach Eustachy’s attorney at approximately 10:30 a.m. [Wednesday] morning that it would be my recommendation that Coach Eustachy be terminated as men’s basketball coach.”

In accordance with Eustachy’s contract, he now has five days to request a hearing with Tahira Hira, executive assistant to ISU President Gregory Geoffroy. After the hearing, Hira would determine if there is just cause to terminate Eustachy. Hira’s decision could be appealed to Geoffroy as well.

In the meantime, Van De Velde said Eustachy has been suspended with pay.

Attempts to contact Eustachy at his home regarding whether he would request a hearing were unsuccessful Wednesday evening.

Eustachy’s actions after a loss at Missouri this season, as well as after a loss to Kansas State in January 2002, have drawn the attention of local and national media this week.

Starting point guard Tim Barnes said Tuesday he and Jackson Vroman would leave Iowa State if Eustachy is not the coach next season.

Van De Velde refused to comment beyond his prepared statement, saying it would be inappropriate until the process outlined in Eustachy’s contract proceeds. He did say that more information on Eustachy is still being analyzed.

“We continue to receive additional reports regarding Coach Eustachy’s conduct,” Van De Velde said.

Diagnosed as an alcoholic

Eustachy said earlier in the day that he would not resign his position and believes in second chances.

“Whatever it would take to right a second chance, I would do,” Eustachy said. “Whatever it would take for us to move forward, I would do.”

Accompanied by his wife, Stacy, Eustachy said he is an alcoholic and has since received out-of-state counseling for the problem.

“Three weeks ago, I was diagnosed by a professional as an alcoholic,” Eustachy said.

After apologizing for the embarrassment he has caused Iowa State, Eustachy said his problem made him out of control on occasion, but said he stayed within the law.

“I can’t have two or three beers. I’ve got to have 10 or 12,” Eustachy said. “And when I do that, you see a side of me that is well-documented. That’s not who I am or what I want to be.”

Eustachy said he came to the decision to address his drinking problem after a meeting with Jared Homan following the player’s third alcohol-related arrest in a year.

“When he left, I felt like the biggest hypocrite — which I was,” Eustachy said.

Stacy Eustachy was supportive of her husband throughout the conference.

“I am so relieved and proud of him that he came to that conclusion,” she said. “I’m so proud that he got there. I don’t care what it took.”

Of his actions, she said, “Absolutely I was disappointed in him, and I let him know it.”

The 47-year-old coach said he will remain in the Ames community to seek counseling but will not enter a rehabilitation center. He said he doesn’t have the urge to drink.

“I know I can never have a drink again,” Eustachy said.

The reports about Eustachy have included sources from the parties who say the coach made several negative comments about his team following the losses.

“Their biggest backer has been their head coach,” Eustachy said. “They know that wasn’t their coach talking about them. … They know that I would fight for them deep down.”

Several photographs have also been published and show Eustachy kissing women on the cheek or being kissed on the cheek. He said he is a different person when he is intoxicated.

“That’s not me,” Eustachy said. “I’m accountable for it and that’s who I was at the time, but that’s not me, and that’s not who I want to be.”

At several points during the press conference, Eustachy said he was only there to tell his story and not to offer any excuses.

“I have no excuses for my behavior,” Eustachy said. “We’ll see what happens in the future, but I’m looking forward to the future as a sober person and I don’t use those words lightly.”

Van De Velde said he made his decision in the interests of others in the ISU community.

“My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected by this situation,” Van De Velde said. “I am taking this action in the best interests of Iowa State University and its student-athletes.”