DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa State basketball coach Larry Eustachy was suspended Wednesday after acknowledging he is an alcoholic, and the athletic director urged the school to fire him.
Three hours after Eustachy said he has sought treatment but will not resign, athletic director Bruce Van De Velde held a news conference of his own to announce that Eustachy would be suspended with pay and should be replaced.
Eustachy has five days to appeal to the president's office.
Eustachy is 101-59 in five seasons at Iowa State, including 17-14 last season. In 13 seasons as a head coach, including stops at Idaho and Utah State, he is 265-145. Eustachy guided Iowa State to Big 12 championships in 2000 and 2001 and was the AP national coach of the year in 2000.
Van De Velde took the action because Eustachy "had engaged in behavior that is inconsistent with his responsibility to conduct himself in a manner that reflects positively on Iowa State University and the university's athletic programs."
Van De Velde said he could not comment beyond a prepared statement that he read, and he left without taking questions.
Eustachy's admission at a news conference earlier Wednesday came after photographs were published of him partying with college students in Missouri. The photographs, published Monday in The Des Moines Register, show him partying with the students and kissing young women.
"It's not my way, and I won't (resign). I believe in second chances, I do, but time will tell," Eustachy said.
He apologized to his family and his players.
"It hasn't been easy for them in the last few days," he said. "Words can't express enough the remorse I have, that I've brought upon everybody."
He said he realized he was an alcoholic nearly a month ago, and is seeking help.
"For the rest of my life I will seek counseling for this illness," he said. "I have no excuses for my behavior . . . we'll see what happens in the future, but I am looking forward to the future as a sober person."
The photographs touched off a national buzz and prompted calls for Eustachy's dismissal or resignation.
Eustachy is under contract through the 2010-11 season and is paid more than $1 million a year.
Iowa State's basketball players went to the university's president and athletic director Tuesday, urging them to keep Eustachy.
"I'm behind Coach Eustachy 100 percent, as I know he would be for each and every one of us," forward Jackson Vroman said.
Eustachy's wife, Stacy also spoke at Wednesday's news conference. She said her husband is a kind and loving father to their two children and has learned he has to treat the condition.
"I'm totally behind him 100 percent, I'm totally behind this man," she said. "He's a human being like everybody in here. He makes mistakes like you all do and like I have.
"He stepped up to the plate and made himself accountable, and that's a great example to our kids," she said.