Thu Apr 24 16:53:21 2008

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Brown resigns as Sixers' executive VP

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Larry Brown has resigned his post as executive vice president for the Philadelphia 76ers, the club announced on Thursday.

The former Sixers coach rejoined the club in January 2007 in the advisory role, but has said multiple times through media outlets that he would like to get back into coaching.

"It's rare you'll find a separation between an organization and an executive as amicable as the one the 76ers had with Larry Brown today," said Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski. "Larry was born to coach and this is something he and I talked about when I took the job here back in December, so it comes as no surprise to me. Working with Larry was always a pleasure and to watch him contribute with Maurice (Cheeks), his staff and the players was terrific."

Brown, 67, has served 23 seasons as a head coach, spending time with eight different clubs in that span, and holds an all-time mark of 1,010-800, making him the fourth winningest coach in league history.

Brown coached the 76ers from 1997-2003 -- his longest tenure with one club over his well-traveled career -- and guided the franchise to a 255-205 record, including five playoff appearances and the 2001 NBA Finals, when they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

After Brown resigned as Philadelphia's coach and vice president in May 2003, he joined the Detroit Pistons and led the team to the 2004 title, and the 2005 NBA Finals.

He then took over as coach of the New York Knicks for the 2006 campaign, but was fired after going 23-59.

Brown also spent time coaching in the college ranks, winning the 1988 national championship at Kansas, and reaching a final with UCLA, and is the only head coach in basketball history to win both an NCAA Championship and NBA title.

In his NBA career, which includes time as a player, he has also coached Denver, New Jersey, San Antonio, the Los Angeles Clippers and Indiana.