Dan "The Horse" Issel gained a reputation for having a great work ethic and incredible durability. A three-year All-American starter for Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky, Issel set 23 Kentucky Wildcat records, including most points and most rebounds. He enjoyed a 15-year pro career in the ABA and NBA with the Kentucky Colonels and Denver Nuggets and helped the Colonels to the 1970 ABA Championship. Issel was an NBA All-Star in 1977. He retired as the Nuggets all-time scoring leader after the 1985 playoffs. He was named head coach for the Nuggets in 1992.

Runs a thoroughbred horse farm and a tile business with his son