The “climate assessment” that took nearly a month to be resolved has finally come to an end. But we’ll never know the outcome — what was found on Larry Eustachy during this, his second investigation in five years at Colorado State — because Eustachy has decided to resign from the university.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as Colorado State’s men’s basketball coach the past six seasons,” Eustachy said in a statement released by the school. “At the end of the day, it is time for me to step aside and allow Colorado State to open a new chapter of Rams basketball. Likewise, this also gives me a chance to hit the reset button and then put all my energy into future opportunities. As hard as it is to step away from these players and my staff, it is the right decision at the right time for all concerned.”
For Eustachy, who was owed a $3 million buyout if fired without cause as part of his coach-sided deal with CSU, he will take home $750,000. For Colorado State, that has to seem like a win-win; Eustachy has left the building and they didn’t have to fork out the total $3 million.
What happens next for Eustachy’s assistant coaches? They all will remain on the roster and under their current contracts until June 30, per that release. That includes Steve Barnes, Eustachy’s right-hand man who took over the team for two losses after Eustachy was placed on paid leave, but Barnes was also placed on leave when the team boycotted his practice.
That’s good news for Jase Herl — the team’s interim head coach, who will remain in his position until the end of the season — and it’s good news for his assistants Pierce Hornung and Dantiel Daniels, each former Eustachy players, as well as Willy Glover.
Herl, at only 30 years old, is the right man for the job at the wrong time. While it must feel like an honor to be the head coach of a D-I team, taking over under these circumstances is anything but ideal. Not only were two coaches placed on leave, pushing Herl to the front of the pack, but the team was in the middle of a seven-game losing streak when he took over, too.
The Eustachy Era at Colorado State can be remembered for the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Quite literally.
Eustachy came aboard in Fort Collins in 2012, inheriting Tim Miles’ great group of seniors who had played together since they were young, in Kansas and Nebraska. Add in Colton Iverson, who sat during Miles’ last season as a transfer from Minnesota, and the 2012-13 Rams were arguably the greatest basketball team in the history of Colorado State.
That season, Eustachy gave way to the seniors, allowing them to play whatever offense they so chose, night-in and night-out. What Eustachy preached starting that year and throughout his era was hard-nosed rebounding and physical, all-out effort on the defensive side of the ball. Greg Smith was the flashy, score-first wing man, Iverson gave the Rams true height for the first time in years and Hornung was the quintessential Eustachy player, diving on the floor for rebounds with a reckless abandon.
The 2012-13 Rams went 24-7 during the regular season and earned a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, even knocking off No. 9 Missouri before falling to the eventual champion Louisville Cardinal (who had to vacate their title after a NCAA ruling a week ago).
Then the roller coaster ride began.
In 2013-14, the Rams finished right at .500, at 16-16 overall. That season, blossoming star Daniel Bejarano and Eustachy infamously got into an argument which nearly turned into a fight during the loss at San Diego State. That same season — we’d all find out four years later — Eustachy was investigated by Jack Graham, Colorado State’s former AD.
Graham’s findings were released to the public last year thanks to a records request by the Fort Collins Coloradoan, and the letter from Graham to Eustachy detailed the coach cussing players out, throwing full Diet Cokes at the walls and punching whiteboards. It was requested by Graham to President Tony Frank that Eustachy be fired, but Frank disagreed. Graham, instead, was let go by the university far before the coach who used fear to garner respect from his players.
2014-15 was again a high on that roller coaster ride; the Rams started the season unbeaten at 14-0 and were even ranked for the first time since 1954, at No. 24 overall. They finished the regular season 26-5, yet were snubbed an invite to the NCAA Tournament, taking a loss in the first round of the NIT at Moby Arena.
2015-16 was again a transitional year, with players transferring away and being replaced regularly by junior college players with two years of eligibility remaining. Oh, and Eustachy’s two most influential and important assists — Ross Hodge and Leonard Perry — both left as well.
But 2016-17 was again magical — no, magnificent — even though it was full of ups and downs itself. Eustachy led the Rams to a big-time upset in Boulder over CU, then the man in black danced in the locker room to Johnny Cash. He again danced, when he was awarded a game ball by CSU for winning his 500th game as a head coach.
But last year also saw three players being declared academically ineligible, Emmanuel Omogbo nearly fought a New Mexico assistant coach and Larry had to step in, and the “culture of fear” from 2013-14 was unearthed. Still, through all the distractions and adversity, the “Magnificent 7” went on a wild run, winning 10-of-12 going into the Mountain West tournament, and coming up one game short of winning that tourney to get into the Big Dance.
Eustachy was named Mountain West Coach of the Year. And less than a year later, he’s now resigned from Colorado State.
The highest of highs, and lowest of lows.
Where will Eustachy be missed most? The postgame interview sessions. Well, his lack of promptness won’t be missed, but all the wild things he used to say will be. He told us he didn’t have to chase coeds anymore because “I have a hot wife now.” He compared himself to Donald Trump multiple times last year. And, he said some touching things, like calling Omogbo his fifth son after the CSU player’s family died tragically in a house fire in 2015.
So, where do the Rams now turn?
There are many options out there, some flashier than others.
Becky Hammon is a hot name, not just because she would be some sort of novelty as the first woman’s head coach at the D-I level. She wouldn’t be that; she’d likely be brilliant. The greatest basketball player in the history of CSU basketball — man or woman — has impressed greatly in the NBA as the first woman’s assistant coach under arguably the best coach in that league, Gregg Popovich.
Others include former Eustachy assistants like Hodge — a personal favorite — or Niko Medved or possibly even Craig Smith. Each of them are currently at either D-II or smaller D-I programs, so luring them back to Fort Collins wouldn’t seemingly be that difficult to do. Much like Herl, Hodge was the confidant and trusted assistant coach when Eustachy was the head man, and Hodge is a brilliant recruiter, too.
Where they go next is up in the air like a basketball on the tip-off; but one thing’s for sure, this hire will be critical for the future of Colorado State men’s basketball, as well as for Joe Parker, who will be making his first coaching hire during his nearly three-year tenure with the school.