On the lookout
Eustachy's exit has Utah State looking for new coach
Posted: Wednesday July 29, 1998 07:20 PM
LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- After his alma mater plucked away his basketball coach on Wednesday, Utah State athletics director Bruce Van De Velde was making a list of possible successors to Larry Eustachy.
"We are moving with expediency and have started to put together a short list of coaching candidates," Van De Velde said. "We will try to hire someone for that position as soon as possible."
Iowa State introduced Eustachy as its basketball coach Wednesday, a week after Tim Floyd left to become director of basketball operations and coach-in-waiting for the Chicago Bulls.
Van De Velde, who is attending Big West Conference meetings in Boise, Idaho, this week, did not mention any names, but USU associate head coach Steve Barnes and former Aggie associate head coach and current Louisiana State assistant coach Kermit Davis reportedly are likely candidates.
An Iowa State graduate, Van De Velde replaced former athletics director Chuck Bell a month ago after spending six years at Big 12 schools Missouri and Kansas State. When he was hired, Van De Velde said he was "aware" of USU's recent accomplishments in basketball.
"Success can be a double-edged sword," he said in a statement Wednesday. "It is great to win, but that also can mean that other schools will come and try to recruit your coaches away.
"It happens at every level. We have been very fortunate to have had successful basketball coaches stay at Utah State for long periods of time."
Six of Utah State's last seven head basketball coaches have served for at least five years, including each of the last four coaches. In all, Utah State has had 16 head coaches in its 93 years of competition.
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