STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland resigned, ending a 27-year tenure that included 606 wins and allegations she discriminated against lesbian players.

Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland answers questions during her weekly news conference Nov. 15, 2005, in State College, Pa. Portland resigned Wednesday, March 21, 2007, the university said in a statement Thursday morning, ending a 27-year tenure in which she won 605 games but battled allegations that she discriminated against lesbian players. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

Portland resigned Wednesday night, the university said in a statement.

The coach faced a series of discrimination allegations during her tenure. Most recently, Portland and Penn State settled a lawsuit in February by former player Jennifer Harris, who claimed Portland had a "no-lesbian" policy on her team.

Portland built the program into a powerhouse, though it slipped to subpar records in recent seasons.

"This was obviously a difficult decision," Portland said in Thursday's statement. "I am very appreciative of the opportunity to coach at Penn State, which has become a special place for me and my family. I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish with the Lady Lion program through the years."

Portland compiled a 606-236 record at Penn State, and earlier this season became the ninth women's basketball coach to win 600 games at one school.

"I appreciate what Rene has done for the women's basketball program," athletic director Tim Curley said in the statement. "Rene and her staff have worked very hard to produce teams that were competitive nationally and within the Big Ten."

Penn State played in 21 NCAA tournaments under Portland and advanced to the 2000 Final Four. Portland won five Big Ten championships and two conference tournament titles.

But Penn State finished 14-15 this season, and 13-16 the year before.

In a December 2005 lawsuit, Harris accused Portland of "humiliating, berating and ostracizing" her, and claimed she was told that she needed to look "more feminine." The suit alleged Portland tried to force Harris, who says she is not gay, to leave the team.

Last April, Portland was reprimanded following a university investigation and threatened with dismissal for any future violation of the school's discrimination policy. She also was fined $10,000 and ordered to take professional development "devoted to diversity and inclusiveness."

Portland maintained Harris' departure was purely related to basketball issues and disagreed with the school's findings.

In documents filed in federal court last May, Harris claimed Portland had a policy of "no drinking, no drugs, no lesbians." Harris initially sought more than $1.1 million in compensatory damages from Portland and the university, plus unspecified punitive damages and other conditions.

Harris, Portland and Curley, another defendant, said in a joint statement last month that they had reached "an amicable settlement."

Portland was criticized in the past for comments regarding homosexuality. In 1986, she told the Chicago Sun-Times she didn't allow lesbians to play on her team. In a 1991 story in The Philadelphia Inquirer, several former players, recruits and colleagues of Portland said the coach did not tolerate homosexuality among her players.

More recently, several former players or people affiliated with the team have told various news outlets of conversations with Portland in which they alleged the coach made comments indicating bias against lesbians.

As a player, Portland won three national championships with Immaculata College (1972-74) at the tournament sponsored by the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.

A year after graduating from Immaculata, Portland became head coach at Saint Joseph's, leading her team to a 23-5 record and the AIAW tournament. Portland spent two seasons at Saint Joseph's and two at Colorado, compiling an 87-29 record and leading her teams into postseason play each year.

In 1980, Portland was hired by Joe Paterno to succeed Pat Meiser — the only head coach Paterno hired during his tenure as Penn State's athletic director.