02/17/2001

By Cathy Harasta / The Dallas Morning News

U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famer Gordie McKellen, a 1972 Olympian and three-time U.S. champion, no longer will coach at Polar Ice in Grapevine, said Brad Berman, chief executive of the rink's Arizona-based parent, Polar Ice Entertainment.

"It was a private matter," Berman said Friday. "Gordie was an independent contractor. He has chosen not to use our facility anymore, and we agreed with that choice. It was a mutual agreement over a private matter that involved his personal life."

McKellen, of Irving, said he had chosen to leave to pursue "other things."

He recently coached former Coppell High School student Lisa Nesuda, 17, to an 11th-place finish in the senior division at the U.S. Championships in Boston. He also handled some of the coaching of Steven Pottenger, 15, and his brother, Christopher, 13, of Coppell. Steven Pottenger and Amy Howerton of Rockwall won the bronze medal in the novice pairs at last month's Nationals.

McKellen, 47, began coaching at Polar Ice in December 1999, after instructing at the Dr Pepper StarCenter in Irving since 1996. He previously coached in Vail, Colo., and the Chicago area. His reign as the U.S. champion spanned 1973-75. He competed in five World Championships.

Steve Pottenger, the father of Steven and Christopher, said his sons found out about McKellen's departure on Tuesday. The father said the family had not decided how to replace McKellen's coaching.

"We're taking it one day at a time," Steve Pottenger said.

Nesuda, who trained with McKellen since June 1999, has returned to her hometown of Little Rock, Ark.

Her father, Roger, said his daughter injured her tailbone during Nationals and suffered from some "burnout" after the pressure of sharing practice ice with three-time world champion Michelle Kwan. Roger Nesuda said Lisa was coaching four students in Little Rock.

"What she's looking at is whether to shoot for the 2006 Olympics," Roger Nesuda said. "She's had her ups and downs. She's worn out. I don't think she'll quit."

Lisa Nesuda won the silver medal in the junior division at the 2000 Nationals. In January, she became the Dallas Figure Skating Club's first representative in the Nationals' senior women's division since Staci McMullin of Plano (1983-85).