AMES, Iowa -- Assistant Iowa State basketball coach Steve Barnes on Friday denied using threats or intimidation to rally support for suspended head coach Larry Eustachy.

Barnes was suspended with pay Thursday for making what the university said were threatening remarks against school and athletic officials in a telephone call to a player's parents.

University spokesman John McCarroll said that according to the parents, whom he did not name, Barnes also encouraged them to "go after the people that got us."

"Clearly, we see that as a reference to the university and to the athletic director," McCarroll said. "We think this kind of activity by coach Barnes is really inconsistent with his duty to conduct himself in the best interests of the university and the student-athletes."

Barnes' suspension came with the university already reeling from the disclosure of Eustachy's postgame partying with college students on road trips and the publication of photos showing Eustachy kissing young women -- and being kissed by them -- on the cheek.

Athletic director Bruce Van De Velde suspended Eustachy on Wednesday and recommended that he be fired. Eustachy had revealed earlier in the day that he was an alcoholic and was undergoing treatment.

Eustachy has until Monday to appeal the recommendation. He said Thursday he would fight for his job, though no appeal had been filed.

McCarroll said Barnes made his remarks in a telephone call late Wednesday night. The university regarded the call and Barnes' comments as a "form of threat and a form of intimidation."

"It really is inexcusable conduct that we will not tolerate," McCarroll said.

In an interview on ESPN Radio on Friday, Barnes said the allegations and his suspension caught him off guard.

"This is hitting me from left field," he said. "All my intention was was to keep this team together."

He said he doesn't recall making the statements that led to his suspension.

"I do not believe I made those statements," Barnes said. "Where they came from, I don't know. I don't ever recall making a statement toward the administration."

With Barnes and Eustachy suspended, the Iowa State basketball program has only two working assistants, Wayne Morgan and Bob Sundvold.

Another assistant, Randy Brown, is facing federal child pornography charges and is to be tried June 2. Brown has been on leave since Jan. 29.

Barnes, 45, was the head coach at San Jose State for three years before joining the Iowa State staff prior to this season. His friendship with Eustachy goes back to the 1970s, when they were high school and college teammates in California.

He also coached under Eustachy at Idaho and Utah State.