Eustachy’s return not triumphant one
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Larry Eustachy returned to Iowa with a new look and a new attitude.
He also picked up a technical foul. Some things never change.
“People ask me if I’ve lost my fire,” Eustachy said. “I haven’t for officials, I guess.”
Eustachy’s Southern Mississippi team lost to UNC-Greensboro 79-78 Friday night in the first round of Iowa’s Hawkeye Challenge. The game brought Eustachy to an arena 130 miles east of where he used to coach at Iowa State.
A former University of Idaho coach, he coached five years at Iowa State before being forced out nearly two years ago after the publication of photos that showed him drinking beer and partying with college-age students after a game at Missouri.
“Iowa’s a special, special place for me,” Eustachy said. “I’ve got a bunch of great friends and a bunch of great people. It really is nice to come back. It would have been nice to win a game.”
About 30 of Eustachy’s friends and family members sat behind the Southern Mississippi bench, including his former wife Stacy, whom he divorced during the summer. His sons Evan and Hayden attended, along with Iowa State boosters Gary Thompson and Robert Gitchell, who became two of Eustachy’s closest friends.
“Iowa State will always be my school,” Eustachy said. “It’s a big part of my life.”
With his wife at his side, Eustachy admitted he was an alcoholic in an emotional news conference before he left Iowa State. He has undergone treatment and says he has stayed sober. He had his drink of choice with him Friday night: a can of Diet Coke.
“I know I’m a better coach,” Eustachy said. “It didn’t show tonight. I’m better at everything I do.”
His return became a media event. When the game started, there were more reporters than fans, other than Eustachy’s guests. TV cameras focused on Eustachy far more often than the action on the floor.
Though he now wears a suit coat and tie instead of the black mock turtlenecks he wore at Iowa State, Eustachy’s coaching style hasn’t changed. He stalked back and forth in front of the bench, yelled during timeouts and, as he did from time to time at Iowa State, picked up a technical foul.
Because it was so quiet in the arena, Eustachy could be heard asking assistant coach Steve Barnes, “What’d I do?” Then he yelled at official Sam Banks, “What was the technical for?”
As for the new attire, Eustachy said, “I feel like a different guy. This is what a different guy wears. How do I look? OK? Not bad, huh?
Eustachy still has a sense of humor. He noted that being in a 12-step program at Alcoholics Anonymous, he’s not supposed to lie.
“By the way,” he said, “not being able to lie hurts recruiting a lot.”