University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Names Larry Eustachy Men's Basketball Coach
3/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Southern Miss Names Larry Eustachy Men's Basketball Coach
Southern Miss Head Coach Larry Eustachy |
Southern Miss Athletics Director Richard Giannini welcomes Larry and Stacy Eustachy |
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ?
Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini has announced the employment of Larry Eustachy as the school's 18th Head Men's Basketball Coach, today, at a news conference held on the campus. His appointment and the terms of his contract are still subject to the approval of the IHL Board."I'm thrilled that a coach of Larry Eustachy's caliber is joining the Southern Miss athletics family," Giannini said. "He has an incredible record in terms of wins and losses and winning championships. He's well respected around the country and among his peers. He will be a great asset in moving our basketball program forward to the top of Conference USA."
Eustachy, the 2000 National Coach of the Year by both The Associated Press and the United States Basketball Writers Association, replaces James Green, who resigned after serving as the Golden Eagle head coach for eight years. Eustachy comes to Southern Miss after posting a 13-year head coaching record of 260-145 , which includes stints at Iowa State (1998-2003), Utah State (1993-98) and Idaho (1990-93). He finished with one 30-win season, five 20-win seasons and has averaged 20 wins per season during his career.
"I am excited about coming to The University of Southern Mississippi," Eustachy said. "It has great potential with its outstanding alumni and hungry fan base. I would like to thank President Dr. Shelby Thames and Director of Athletics Richard Giannini and everyone else for believing in me. I'm looking forward to taking Southern Miss basketball to a national level."
In his five-year career at Iowa State, the two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year led the Cyclones to a 101-59 record, back-to-back Big 12 Conference Championships (2000 and 2001 ) and an AP Top 10 ranking both years (No. 6 in 2000 & No. 10 in 2001). His squads made consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2000 (32-5) and 2001 (25-6), advancing as far as the Elite 8 in 2000, and made a third trip to postseason, with a visit to the NIT Tournament in 2003. He coached two All-Americans and Big 12 Conference Players of the Year (Marcus Fizer, 2000; Jamaal Tinsley, 2001).
"During my tenure as athletic director at Iowa State University, Larry did an outstanding job with our program," Arizona State Director of Athletics Gene Smith said. "I am glad he has his life back on track and will be back in the profession."
Prior to his tenure with the Cyclones, the two-time Big West Conference Coach of the Year (1995, 1998) spent five years at Utah State, compiling a 98-53 record. He led the Aggies to three Big West regular-season titles (1995, 1997, 1998) and the 1998 conference tournament title. The Aggies advanced to the postseason two times, the 1998 NCAA Tournament and the 1995 NIT.
"Larry Eustachy turned a last place Utah State team into first an NIT team and then an NCAA team in only five years," said Chuck Bell, Director of Athletics at San Jose State University. "He did so with the greatest of integrity and in a very tough conference which at the time included UNLV and New Mexico State when both teams were going annually to the NCAA Tournament. Larry Eustachy, his wife Stacy and their two sons became immensely popular in the community and in the state of Utah. I think this is a win-win for the Eustachys and Southern Miss. I don't think there is a better coach or a better family in the country."
He spent his first three years as a head coach at Idaho, where he sported a 61-33 record. He led the Vandals to three-consecutive winning seasons, including the 1993 Big Sky Conference regular-season championship. Eustachy has held assistant coaching positions with Citrus (Calif.) College (1979-81), Mississippi State (1981-86), Idaho (1986-87), Utah (1987-89) and Ball State (1989-90). While at Ball State, the Cardinals advanced to the NCAA "Sweet 16" in 1990. "I've known Larry forever," said University of Louisville Vice President and Director of Athletics Tom Jurich, who has known Eustacy since elementary school in Arcadia, Calif. "He and his wife, Stacy, have a terrific family that I'm sure will enjoy moving to one of my favorite places in the league. Certainly, he hit a professional wall last year and faced a big issue. I'm so proud that he took it head on and has moved forward, but that is the type person he is. He's a proven coach who has won national coach of the year honors, is a great recruiter and will immediately bring a lot of credibility to the Southern Miss program. I couldn't be happier for him. I have always been impressed with the quality of coaches at Southern Miss and Larry will not only be a great fit, but is a wonderful addition to their program. I applaud Richard Giannini in his very successful search." THE EUSTACHY FILE NAME: Larry Eustachy BIRTHDATE: Dec. 1, 1955 (Alameda, Calif.)
WIFE: The former Stacy Smith, a Mississippi State graduate and former student athlete CHILDREN: Hayden (12) and Evan (10) HEAD COACHING EXPERIENCE: Year School Record Conf. Record Conf. Finish Postseason
2002-03 Iowa State 17-14 5-11 T9th NIT First Round
2001-02 Iowa State 12-19 4-12 11th
2000-01 Iowa State 25-6 13-3 1st NCAA First Round
1999-00 Iowa State 32-5 14-2 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1998-99 Iowa State 15-15 6-10 9th
1997-98 Utah State 25-8 13-3 1st(East) NCAA First Round
1996-97 Utah State 20-9 12-4 T1st(East)
1995-96 Utah State 18-15 10-8 4th
1994-95 Utah State 21-8 14-4 1st NIT First Round
1993-94 Utah State 14-13 11-7 T2nd
1992-93 Idaho 24-8 11-3 1st
1991-92 Idaho 18-14 10-6 T3rd
1990-91 Idaho 19-11 11-5 3rd
Total (13 years) 260-145 134-78
(.642) (.632)
IDAHO: 61-33 (.649)
UTAH STATE: 98-53 (.649)
IOWA STATE: 101-59 (631)
HONORS:
2001 Big 12 Coach of the Year
2000 The Associated Press National Coach of the Year
United States Basketball Writers? Association National Coach of the Year
Big 12 Coach of the Year
1998 Big West Coach of the Year
1995 Big West Coach of the Year
