DENVER -- Dan Issel, the second-leading all-time scorer in Denver Nuggets history, was named head coach of his former team Wednesday, despite having no previous coaching experience.
Terms of the multi-year pact were not released.
Issel, 43, replaces Paul Westhead, who was fired at the conclusion of the current season after guiding the Nuggets to their two worst seasons in franchise history.
'I don't come in here with stars in my eyes,' said Issel, who has worked as color commentator for Nuggets' telecasts for the past four years. 'The only promise I make to you is this team will play hard every night. As far as what the fans should expect, this team will have a work ethic that is second to none and we will play hard.'
In presenting Issel as the new head coach, Nuggets general manager Bernie Bickerstaff also said that Gene Littles and Mike Evans have been hired as Issel's assistants.
Littles, a vice president/special assistant to the president of the Charlotte Hornets, served as Hornets' head coach part of the 1989-90 season and during the 1990-91 campaign. He played six years in the ABA and served as an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls.
Evans, who served as an assistant to Westhead, played nine years in the NBA, including six seasons with the Nuggets.
Bickerstaff said organizational loyalty was a key reason to tab Issel as the 10th head coach of the Nuggets.
'We have a commitment as a staff to make our decisions on what is best for the Denver Nuggets,' he said.
While not disagreeing with his new boss, Issel said he has felt uncomfortable in various minor front-office posts with the Nuggets and as a television commentator since his retirement in 1985.
'I was hurt more than anything,' he said of his lack of involvement with the team. 'But I kept my mouth shut and did the job that I had the best I could do.
'The reason that I was going back to Kentucky was that I didn't see that position (as television commentator) going anyplace. I didn't want to be 55 years old and the color commentator for the Denver Nuggets.'
Issel said he agreed to serve as the Secretary of Tourism for the State of Kentucky and even loaded his possessions into a moving van, but decided to take the Nuggets' job instead. He admitted that conversations were held with Kentucky state officials and that the tourism post was planned as a stepping stone to the Kentucky governorship.
'Such conversations were held,' said Issel. 'But I must admit that I have been backing away from the job ever since I agreed to take it. I'd rather be coach of the Denver Nuggets.'
While declining to comment on possible changes in player personnel on the team, Issel said 'this team will be built around Dikembe Mutombo.'
The new coach said that while his young center would be expected to carry Denver at the defensive end, he added Mutombo would not then be asked to carry the Nuggets on the offensive end as well.
'I see other players on this team, besides Dikembe Mutombo and Mark Macon, as big-time players in this league,' he said.
Issel scored 27,482 points during a 15-year professional career in the ABA and NBA. His point total is fifth on the all-time ABA-NBA scoring list, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving and Moses Malone. His 16,589 points in nine seasons with Denver places him behind only Alex English on the Nuggets' all-time list.
