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Updated at 1:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Basketball: Garcia Reneses quits as Spain coach

Associated Press

MADRID, Spain — Aito Garcia Reneses has quit as Spain's basketball coach after leading the national team to a silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Garcia Reneses made use of a clause in his contract which allows him to vacate the position after the games, the Spanish basketball federation announced today.

"I don't want to coach only for two months a year. At present, I prefer to be active throughout the season," said Garcia Reneses, who is expected to take over at Spanish club Unicaja.

The 61-year-old coach, who had been in charge for less than three months, made his last appearance on Sunday when the world champions lost 107-118 to the United States in a thrilling Olympic basketball final.

Garcia Reneses, who has nine league trophies and one European Cup on his resume, was the replacement for Jose Vicente "Pepu" Hernandez.

Hernandez led Spain to its first world championship in 2006 and the final of the European championship last year, but was fired after an acrimonious dispute with the federation.