Colorado State placed men’s basketball coach Larry Eustachy on administrative leave Saturday afternoon, athletic director Joe Parker announced in a statement.
The athletic department is in the midst of conducting a climate assessment on Eustachy’s conduct as the Rams’ head coach, the second time his conduct has been under investigation in the past five years.
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“I have asked head coach Larry Eustachy to temporarily step away from the men’s basketball program, as he has been placed on administrative leave while we conclude our climate assessment,” Parker said in an email. “We are diligently working through this assessment as expeditiously as possible, understanding the importance of a thorough and fair process. No conclusions have been made.”
Parker also announced that associate head coach Steve Barnes will assume head coaching duties until the assessment is complete, beginning with Saturday’s game against the Nevada Wolfpack.
I have asked head coach Larry Eustachy to temporarily step away from the men’s basketball program, as he has been placed on administrative leave while we conclude our climate assessment. We are diligently working through this assessment as expeditiously as possible, understanding the importance of a thorough and fair process. No conclusions have been made.” -Joe Parker, CSU athletic director
According to a report from Justin Michael and Matt Stephens of the Denver Post, Eustachy told his team Tuesday afternoon that CSU President Tony Frank informed him that his job was safe. A spokesperson from CSU denied the report, saying that such communication would “compromise the integrity of Parker’s assessment, in which President Frank has complete confidence.”
After the first investigation into Eustachy’s conduct in 2013-14, the university gave him a strict zero-tolerance policy in regards to his behavior with players, coaching staff and other members affiliated with the basketball program.
There is no immediate timetable for the duration of the investigation. Eustachy is still under contract with CSU through the 2020-21 season.
Collegian sports director Colin Barnard can be reached by email at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter @ColinBarnard_.
