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Sutton takes leave to enter treatment facility
Eddie Sutton announced Wednesday that he is leaving Oklahoma State and will enter a treatment facility for alcohol-related issues. The announcement comes days after Sutton was cited for a DUI.
Oklahoma State announced the move at a news conference Wednesday night, which Sutton did not attend. The legendary coach made his announcement via conference call.
"I make no excuses for [what] has happened," Sutton said on the call. "I have a problem with alcohol. I recognize it and I will be seeking treatment for it; and I know I have let many people down. … I seek your help and I trust, as I address my health challenges and my problem, I will once again be worthy of earning your trust and respect."
Sean Sutton, Eddie's son, had already been designated to be the school's head coach-in-waiting and will take over on a permanent basis.
"We know our program and our players will be in great hands," Indiana president David Schmidly said. "Now what is important is the health of Coach Sutton. We admire his courage, his forthrightness and his honesty this evening. … We want him to get well and we will do whatever we can to support him to the fullest."
The latest developments come days afer Sutton left the team on medical leave because of a traffic accent that occured last Friday in which he was injured and cited for driving under the influence.
Oklahoma State announced Monday that the 69-year-old Sutton would take a medical leave and that Sean Sutton would finish this season as coach.
Eddie Sutton said in a statement released by the university that he nearly took medical leave after a Feb. 4 trip to Kansas State because of chronic back pain that was "making it very difficult to coach."
"After Friday's events, I know it is best to go on medical leave the remainder of the season to address my future health," he said. "It is very difficult to step away from the team. But I know they are in great hands."
Under Oklahoma law, driving under the influence can include a range of substances, including prescription painkillers or alcohol. The university said it would not comment on the DUI citation because of privacy and legal reasons.
Sutton spent the night in the hospital with a head injury following Friday's accident in Stillwater.
Witnesses described Sutton's sports utility vehicle as driving dangerously and erratically, forcing cars to swerve out of the way before he hit another SUV from behind at about 60 mph, according to police reports released Monday.
Stillwater police cited Sutton after the accident but did not jail him on a complaint of driving under the influence because of a lack of physical evidence, the city's police chief said Monday.
Police also filed complaints against Sutton for speeding and crossing the center line.
When Sutton came to his alma mater in 1990, he acknowledged he had undergone treatment for a drinking problem and said "I've dealt with it."
In Monday's statement, Sutton said he had been under a tremendous amount of stress because of "my deteriorating physical condition and other issues."
Sutton has weathered other tough times to become the fifth winningest men's coach in Division I history with 794 wins, trailing only Dean Smith (879), Adolph Rupp (876), Bob Knight (866) and Jim Phelan (830).
Under Sutton's command, Oklahoma State made 13 NCAA appearances, including two Final Fours, and had 13 20-win seasons. Sutton appeared in the NCAA Tournament with a record four different schools (Creighton, Arkansas and Kentucky, in addition to the Cowboys), but never won the national title.
Source: AP
Oklahoma State announced the move at a news conference Wednesday night, which Sutton did not attend. The legendary coach made his announcement via conference call.
"I make no excuses for [what] has happened," Sutton said on the call. "I have a problem with alcohol. I recognize it and I will be seeking treatment for it; and I know I have let many people down. … I seek your help and I trust, as I address my health challenges and my problem, I will once again be worthy of earning your trust and respect."
Sean Sutton, Eddie's son, had already been designated to be the school's head coach-in-waiting and will take over on a permanent basis.
"We know our program and our players will be in great hands," Indiana president David Schmidly said. "Now what is important is the health of Coach Sutton. We admire his courage, his forthrightness and his honesty this evening. … We want him to get well and we will do whatever we can to support him to the fullest."
The latest developments come days afer Sutton left the team on medical leave because of a traffic accent that occured last Friday in which he was injured and cited for driving under the influence.
Oklahoma State announced Monday that the 69-year-old Sutton would take a medical leave and that Sean Sutton would finish this season as coach.
Eddie Sutton said in a statement released by the university that he nearly took medical leave after a Feb. 4 trip to Kansas State because of chronic back pain that was "making it very difficult to coach."
"After Friday's events, I know it is best to go on medical leave the remainder of the season to address my future health," he said. "It is very difficult to step away from the team. But I know they are in great hands."
Under Oklahoma law, driving under the influence can include a range of substances, including prescription painkillers or alcohol. The university said it would not comment on the DUI citation because of privacy and legal reasons.
Sutton spent the night in the hospital with a head injury following Friday's accident in Stillwater.
Witnesses described Sutton's sports utility vehicle as driving dangerously and erratically, forcing cars to swerve out of the way before he hit another SUV from behind at about 60 mph, according to police reports released Monday.
Stillwater police cited Sutton after the accident but did not jail him on a complaint of driving under the influence because of a lack of physical evidence, the city's police chief said Monday.
Police also filed complaints against Sutton for speeding and crossing the center line.
When Sutton came to his alma mater in 1990, he acknowledged he had undergone treatment for a drinking problem and said "I've dealt with it."
In Monday's statement, Sutton said he had been under a tremendous amount of stress because of "my deteriorating physical condition and other issues."
Sutton has weathered other tough times to become the fifth winningest men's coach in Division I history with 794 wins, trailing only Dean Smith (879), Adolph Rupp (876), Bob Knight (866) and Jim Phelan (830).
Under Sutton's command, Oklahoma State made 13 NCAA appearances, including two Final Fours, and had 13 20-win seasons. Sutton appeared in the NCAA Tournament with a record four different schools (Creighton, Arkansas and Kentucky, in addition to the Cowboys), but never won the national title.
Source: AP