By Kelly Kurt The Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. – Eddie Sutton may have coached his last game, a 35-year career possibly ending six victories short of 800 because of a traffic accident in which he was injured and cited for driving under the influence.

Oklahoma State announced yesterday that the 69-year-old Sutton would take a medical leave and that Sean Sutton, his son and designated heir apparent, will finish this season as coach. The school said no decision had been made on who will coach next season.

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.”

Eddie 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.

The driver of the other SUV received minor injuries and was released at the scene.

One witness at the accident scene told police that Sutton seemed confused, responded angrily to questions and had a “slight fruity odor” on his breath.

The same witness reported seeing a bottle of prescription hydrocodone, a narcotic painkiller, on the seat of Sutton’s SUV.

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 yesterday.

Witnesses told police that shortly before the accident, Sutton was unsteady on his feet and struck his head after falling in the parking lot of Gallagher-Iba Arena before entering his vehicle. Sutton refused an ambulance at that scene and insisted on driving, police reports show.

The results of blood tests – which could take six to eight weeks to receive – will show whether the coach was driving under the influence, Stillwater Chief Norman McNickle said. Sutton was not given a field sobriety test at the time because he needed medical treatment, he said.

Police also filed complaints against Sutton for speeding and crossing the center line.

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.

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 yesterday’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, trailing only Dean Smith (879), Adolph Rupp (876), Bob Knight (866) and Jim Phelan (830).

Sutton is in his 16th season at Oklahoma State.

“I hope he’s back next year. I mean this sincerely,” Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. “I’ve never coached against a better coach than Eddie Sutton.”

Sutton resigned in 1989 from a Kentucky program placed on four years’ probation. In 2001, a plane crash killed two Oklahoma State basketball players and six team staffers.

The Cowboys have advanced to postseason play 14 times in 15 years under Sutton, including 13 NCAA tournament appearances. He took the Cowboys to the Final Four in 1995 and 2004. He also reached the Final Four with Arkansas.

After last season, there was much speculation about whether Sutton would retire. Instead of stepping aside, he stayed on and his son became his replacement in waiting, though no specific timetable was given for the change of power.

The Cowboys are 13-11 and 3-7 in the Big 12 with six regular-season games left. Sutton recently criticized his team’s toughness, calling it the “softest team in 16 years that I have ever coached.”

With Oklahoma State scheduled to play Kansas at home last night, Sutton spoke to players twice Sunday, assistant coach James Dickey said during the Big 12 coaches conference call Monday.

“I’m sure they were disappointed,” Dickey said. “As you can imagine, the players listened intently. But they all wished him the best, told him they loved him. He told them he loved them, to stay on the books and play hard and do their best.”