FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Former Colorado State assistant coach Niko Medved is returning to Fort Collins to lead the Rams men’s basketball program after spending a year as Drake’s head coach. Medved replaces Larry Eustachy, who stepped down last month, ending a “climate assessment” of the program led by athletic director Joe Parker.

Eustachy, who was 122-79 in five-plus seasons at CSU, is on paid leave until June 30, at which time he’ll formally resign. Medved was an assistant coach at CSU from 2007-13 before spending four years as head coach at Furman and then leading Drake last season to its first postseason berth in six years.

Drake athletic director Brian Hardin said: “We are disappointed by this news but remain excited and confident about the trajectory of the Drake men’s basketball program.” Hardin asked Dave Thorson to serve as interim head coach while a national search is conducted to find Medved’s replacement.