The coach quits after controversy

Basketball Hall of Fame member Dan Issel resigned as coach and president of the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, two weeks after being fined for yelling a national slander among his fans who laughed at him.

Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe told reporters that Issel, 53, has resigned. Issel did not attend the press conference at the team headquarters.

"Dan believes it's for himself, his family and the Nuggets are his best choice to take a step back from his coach," Vandeweghe said, adding that the Nuggets have reached a financial settlement with Issel, which is not disclosed.

Issel earns $2.5 million a year on contracts for the 2002-03 season.

Vandeweghe said Mike Evans, an assistant coach who led the Nuggets during Issel's absence, will continue to serve as interim coach.

The controversy began on December 11, when the Nuggets lost 99-96 with the Charlotte Hornets' loss after Denver TV recorded Issel's exchange with fans.

On the tape, Issel can be heard telling the fan: "Go and have another beer from Mexico (expletive).

If he doesn't apologize, members of the Hispanic community are angry and threaten to boycott the team. Nuggets' management suspended Issel for four games and paid a $112,000 salary for his incident.

Issel apologized, met with leaders of the Denver Hispanic community and demanded their forgiveness.

Issel plans to return to the Golden State Warriors from the suspension Saturday, but told Vandeweghe that he needs a leave of absence.

One of the Hispanic leaders who initially called on Isterl to resign said he regretted Issel's departure from the Denver Nuggets.

Denver's state Sen. Rob Hernandez, along with other community leaders, condemned Issel for making insensitive ethnic remarks to screaming fans earlier this month. However, Hernandez and others changed their minds after Issel apologized in public and privately.

Hernandez said he and other members of the Hispanic community felt good after talking to Issel and were looking forward to working with coaches and the Nuggets.

Lawmakers hope Issel will also get involved in the job as the Nuggets coach and president. Hernandez believes that the Denver Community has learned some good lessons due to the controversy.

Issel spent most of his career in Denver and retired in 1985 as a scorer and rebounder in franchise history. His resignation on Wednesday ended his second term as Nuggets coach.

In 1995, he resigned as coach in the middle of the season, but returned to general manager in 1998 and later became coach and president.