The news this week about Iowa State’s basketball coach is every athletic director’s nightmare.

The headlines triggered this week by Iowa State University basketball coach Larry Eustachy aren’t the kind of publicity any university athletic program wants.

The stories about Eustachy drinking beer and partying with university students in more than one Big 12 city also is a vivid reminder of why it’s important that people doing the hiring consider more than a coach’s ability to win games.

Eustachy doesn’t have a lot better record for winning games than for conducting his personal affairs. His losing season at Iowa State, however, didn’t draw nearly as much attention around the country — or have as great a potential impact on his coaching career –as the photos of Eustachy kissing college women and hoisting brews.

Supporters of college athletics place a high priority on coaches conducting themselves in an appropriate manner. This means running a clean program and following the rules. Much also is made of a coach’s need to act as a role model for his players, who often look to a coach as a father figure. An unfortunate example of that relationship was cited in a story about Eustachy’s players supporting their coach.

“Basically, he’s treated me like a son,” Jared Homan, a junior on Cyclones squad told the reporter. The kicker? Homan was charged last month with public intoxication. Like father, like son?

Iowa State officials are pondering disciplinary action against Eustachy, and many people are calling for his dismissal. The hot-tempered Eustachy isn’t exactly a crowd favorite among Big 12 fans, and his latest antics aren’t likely to endear him to anyone.

Various criticisms were directed at Roy Williams when he left Kansas University last month to take the head coaching job at North Carolina, but no one could accuse Williams of not running a clean program at KU. Looking at Eustachy’s current situation should make KU fans appreciate Williams’ dedication to setting a good example for his team and demanding that the conduct of both his basketball program and his players reflected positively on KU.

It’s a standard that no doubt was on the minds of those who hired the new head coach, Bill Self. Every indication is that Self will try to emulate Williams’ example. Likewise, the personal character of those to be considered for the KU athletic director position should be a high priority. The situation Eustachy finds himself in now should serve as a strong reminder to all college coaches of the microscope they live under and how quickly their personal behavior can destroy their credibility or their careers.