Kirk Earlywine, Eastern Washington University’s second-year men’s basketball coach, confirmed Wednesday afternoon that it was a legal issue that prevented him from attending his team’s non-conference game against Boise State University in Boise on Monday evening.

According to police reports, Earlywine was arrested near Brown and Sprague at 1:55 a.m. Friday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was released on bond later that morning and appeared in municipal court for arraignment on Monday afternoon.

When reached by phone on Wednesday in Phoenix, where he has rejoined his team and started preparations for Friday night’s Big Sky Conference matchup against Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Earlywine expressed remorse over the incident, but offered little in the way of additional details.

“I wish I could say more, but I can’t,” he said. “I’ve got to kind of just work through this issue, and it’s going to be a process. And until that process runs its course, I can’t say much.

“I do, however, understand the gravity and seriousness of it. But until the next step of the process takes place, I’ve got to devote my time and full attention to doing what I love, which is coaching these players and this basketball team.”

Earlywine said he was scheduled to appear back in court in early February, but did not recall the exact date. Efforts to reach his attorney were unsuccessful.

EWU athletic director Bill Chaves said university officials were aware of Earlywine’s situation, but declined, as well, to offer further details on how the process might play out.

“We’re in the process of addressing it internally right now,” he said, “and that’s where I’ve got to leave it. It’s a personnel issue, as well, which precludes me from further comment.”

A statement issued by the university during Monday night’s game – a 58-47 loss to the Broncos – said Earlywine was not available to coach because he was attending to a “personal matter.” Neither Earlywine, who watched the EWU-BSU game via a Boise State Web cast, nor Chaves would comment on the matter at the time.

The Eagles coaching staff and team flew directly from Boise to Phoenix on Tuesday morning following the loss, and Earlywine rejoined them late Tuesday evening and conducted Wednesday’s practice session.

 

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