At a press conference at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, ISU athletic director Bruce Van De Velde said that he has recommended men’s basketball coach Larry Eustachy be fired. Eustachy was suspended with pay and has five days to appeal the recommendation.

At a 1:00 press conference, Eustachy admitted he is an alcoholic and has recently been seeking counseling for the problem.

Accompanied by his wife, Stacy, Eustachy said he realized he had an alcohol problem nearly a month ago and has since received out-of-state counseling for the problem.

“Yesterday, I decided to tell my story, all the way to the point that I got on a plane, sober, for the first time in 25 years,” Eustachy said. “I’m an alcoholic.”

Eustachy said he has been alcohol-free for the last two weeks. He began the press conference by apologizing for the embarrassment he has caused Iowa State.

Eustachy said he would not resign and declined to say whether he has been asked by ISU President Gregory Geoffroy or Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde to resign.

A press conference has been called for 4:30 p.m. in which Van De Velde will address the status of Eustachy as men’s basketball coach.

—Jeff Raasch and Brian Rumsey