Southern Miss' Eustachy finally back

PITTSBURGH -- Larry Eustachy started his first NCAA news conference in 11 years saying he hoped reporters would write about his team and not him. He soon sensed that was unrealistic, and decided to open up.

"There's nobody that's got more scars on their fanny than me,'' said the Southern Mississippi coach, whose ninth-seeded Golden Eagles play No. 8 Kansas State in a second-round East Regional game at 12:40 p.m. Thursday.

"I could do this blindfolded and backward and every day. I think my story's a neat story. I think it's a great story. I think it inspires people.''

Eustachy was a coaching star in the early 2000s, leading Iowa State to records of 32-5 and 25-6 in 1999-2000 and '00-01, each time reaching the NCAAs.

But his term there crashed in the spring of 2003 when pictures hit the Internet of him partying with college-aged women after a game at Missouri earlier that season.

Eustachy was suspended and acknowledged an ongoing problem with alcohol abuse. He eventually was fired and was out of coaching for a season.

Southern Miss gave him a chance in 2004-05 and he has been there since, leading the school to its first NCAA berth in 21 years. Now 56, Eustachy says he still is sober, and happier than ever.

"I took a hard look at myself and realized I had to make some changes,'' he said. "I'm really proud of those changes. I've become better at everything I do: a dad, a son, a coach.''

Eustachy said he is better able to appreciate the NCAAs. "Well, they say when you start drinking you stop maturing,'' he said. "I had my first drink at 17. So basically I was a 17-year-old coming to tournaments. It's been quite a long time since I've had a drink. So I'm far more mature. I'd like to think I'm more humbled . . . I'm much more appreciative.''