The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa - Suspended basketball coach Larry Eustachy will fight to keep his job at Iowa State and is confident he could regain his credibility.

"It's the only way I know how," Eustachy said Thursday on ESPN Radio. "You preach that and you teach that. I just believe that I'm the best person for this situation. Until I'm told that I'm not, I'm going to fight for it."

Eustachy spoke with ESPN Radio one day after revealing he was being treated for alcoholism and learning that athletic director Bruce Van De Velde had recommended that he be fired.

Van De Velde's action followed newspaper reports that Eustachy had partied with college students in Columbia, Mo., and Manhattan, Kan. Photos from the Missouri party show Eustachy holding a beer can while kissing and being kissed by young women on the cheek.

Eustachy, who was suspended with pay, has until Monday to appeal Van De Velde's recommendation.

"There's a lot of people that were let down," Eustachy said. "I'd like to make them proud again. Most particular, there's a bunch of players that were counting on me and are counting on me and would like to see us put it all together.

"I know my wife and my family, my parents and everybody would really like to have me show everybody what can happen as a sober person. So I'm sitting here with my hat in my hands and as sincere as I can be."

Asked if his firing was warranted, Eustachy replied, "I'm not sure if I'm the one to judge that. I can only tell you how I feel and what I'd like to have happen."

About 50 Iowa State students gathered Thursday in front of Beardshear Hall, which houses the university's top administrative offices, to show their support for Eustachy.

They cheered as players Jackson Vroman and Jared Homan walked up.

"I came here to play basketball for Larry Eustachy," said Vroman, a junior forward. "I don't know if I'll be around here if he doesn't coach. It's a shame he came out and said he was an alcoholic and they basically turned their backs on him."

Van De Velde said Eustachy brought "profound embarrassment" to the university and violated a good behavior clause in his contract.

Doug Gross, one of Eustachy's attorneys, said he was still gathering information and no appeal had been filed.

"We think the contract provides him with protection," Gross said. "We're just trying to assess what their proposal is. Any relevant statutes, rules or laws will be part of the analysis."

Eustachy's contract allows him to appeal Van De Velde's decision to Tahira K. Hira, an assistant to university President Gregory Geoffroy. Hira then would conduct a hearing and decide whether to uphold Van De Velde's recommendation.

Her decision could be appealed to Geoffroy.

A hearing must be held within 20 days of an appeal unless both sides agree to a different time.