Eustachy, Iowa State part ways

The coach was tired of the turmoil, which affected his players and family.
AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Following the resignation of embattled coach Larry Eustachy, Iowa State is faced with the challenges of reuniting a divided fan and booster base and finding a coach who can restore the Cyclones' winning ways.
Eustachy, 47, reached a settlement with the university Monday hours before a deadline for appealing a decision by athletic director Bruce Van De Velde that Eustachy's contract be terminated.
"Make no mistake about it, we need to end this thing. We need to end it here," said Eustachy, who spoke briefly with reporters outside his home Monday night.
"We've played tug of war and divided this group of people enough," he said. "Our players need to come together and not have any division. I'll do everything I can to help this university and our fans bring this group back together."
Terms of agreement
Eustachy agreed to step down, while the university agreed to pay him $110,000 for the remainder of 2003 and a lump severance payment of $850,000 on Jan. 1, 2004. It also provides Eustachy with the university's health benefits package, which covers treatment for alcohol abuse.
"We've had a lot of fans, a lot of alumni on both sides of this issue. Obviously it's been a very heated, intense discussion and people have very, very strong opinions," university president Gregory Geoffroy said.
Last Monday the Des Moines Register published embarrassing photographs of Eustachy partying and drinking with college students at an apartment after a Jan. 12 game at Missouri. Reports also mentioned a similar incident that occurred the year before after a game in Manhattan, Kan.
On Wednesday, Eustachy, who coached the Cyclones for five years and was paid $1.1 million a year, announced he had problems with alcohol and was seeking treatment. At the time, he said he would challenge Van De Velde's decision and wanted to finish his coaching career in Ames.
But Eustachy said his feelings changed after realizing how the turmoil was affecting his players, family and the university community.
The monetary settlement resolved all matters relating to Eustachy's departure, said Steve Zumbach, the private Des Moines attorney hired to represent the university in negotiations.
Eustachy compiled a record of 101-59 at Iowa State, winning Big 12 championships in 2000 and 2001. He was Big 12 Coach of the Year in both those seasons and was AP Coach of the Year in 2000.
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