pat riley

"Whatever else happens after that, we know he's going to do what's best for the team."

Pat Riley's worst season as coach of the Miami Heat will be his last.

The Hall of Famer will resign as coach Monday afternoon but remain team president, a person close to Riley said.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because an announcement had yet to be made.

Pat Riley can't understand why Shaquille O'Neal keeps talking about the Miami Heat. Riley responded to O'Neal's criticisms Wednesday with some of his own, saying his former center was wrong to disparage some of his old teammates and trainers in a Boston Globe story.

"It's sad that he says those things. We shared so much here, together, for three years, good and bad, 3 1/2 years," Riley said, referring specifically to the Heat's 2006 NBA title.

"I just think it's sad that he's got to do that.