THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Longtime NBA coach Del Harris has resigned as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets.

The Nets issued a statement from Harris minutes after they lost 97-93 to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.

Harris joined the team in late November after general manager Kiki Vandeweghe was named the interim coach following the firing of Lawrence Frank after the Nets lost their first 17 games.

A former head coach with Houston, Milwaukee and the Lakers, Harris came to New Jersey to help Vandeweghe with his first head coaching assignment. The 72-year-old said Vandeweghe was able to handle the job by himself.

Harris said he was returning home to Dallas, adding he enjoyed his time with the Nets (4-43).

"I had not experienced such a losing situation since 1983, but because the players are such good people, the losing of games did not become the chaotic situation that has happened to so many teams who were locked into a total rebuilding year," Harris said in a statement.

The Nets have been competitive in their last four games and Harris said he thinks the team is getting over the hump.

"I have enjoyed my time here," he said. "There is no negative to this story. It's all good, but just time to go."