Investigation concludes Larry Eustachy 'created a culture of fear' at Colorado State

Eustachy escaped firing after an investigation revealed emotional abuse of players and assistants

An investigation during the 2013-14 season into Colorado State’s Larry Eustachy revealed the coach created “a culture of fear and intimidation and emotionally abused his players,” according to a report in the (Fort Collins) Coloradoan.

The information, which the Coloradoan reported on Wednesday, showed findings from a 90-page report that recommended terminating Eustachy’s contract. That recommendation from former athletic director Jack Graham, who led the probe with two other athletic department administrators, was never carried out.

“I believed Eustachy should be terminated and believed we had the basis to terminate for cause,” Graham told the Coloradoan this week. “I was advised by President Tony Frank that we did not have the basis to terminate for cause and that Eustachy was to be placed on a personal improvement plan.”

According to a summary of the investigation, Eustachy acknowledged incidents in which he told assistant coaches to “shut the f--- up” and admitted to calling players “f------ c---ts.” 

When asked during the investigation if he created a culture of fear and intimidation, Eustachy admitted to crossing the line. But he wasn’t happy with the findings being released to the public in a statement released Wednesday.

“I am deeply disappointed on a very personal level that someone chose to publicize confidential information from my personnel file,” Eustachy said. “That said, I fully recognize that I’m not perfect. I have my faults and strive every day to be better than I was yesterday.”

The 99-day investigation documented the coach’s outbursts, which reportedly included incidents of Eustachy punching and breaking dry erase boards, throwing soda cans against walls, throwing chairs in closed practices and berating players.

Upon the conclusion of the investigation, Colorado State required Eustachy to attend six anger management sessions and apologize to his team. According to the Coloradoan, however, it’s unclear if he completed those sessions.

Eustachy has been a head coach for more than 26 years with coaching jobs at Utah State, Idaho, Southern Mississippi and Iowa State. He took the CSU job in 2012, and led the Rams to an NCAA Tournament appearance the following season. The team hasn’t been back to the Big Dance since a second-round loss to Louisville in 2013.

Colorado State (18-9) is riding a four-game winning streak in the Mountain West. However the Rams aren’t in Jerry Palm’s latest NCAA Tournament projection for his field of 68 teams.