By Rob Miech · July 22, 2009 · 2:10 PM

Former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian was released from the intensive-care unit of Scripps Memorial Hospital on Tuesday and has begun physical therapy sessions.

Tarkanian, who guided the Rebels to the NCAA championship in 1990, underwent a 90-minute procedure Friday to remove a bone spur that was compressing against his spine.

It had hindered his ability to walk for a couple years.

Two weeks ago, Tarkanian, who turns 79 next month, suffered two broken ribs and a fractured shoulder in different spills at his summer home in Pacific Beach, near San Diego.

Danny Tarkanian said his dad likely will be released from the hospital, after several more rounds of physical therapy, early next week.

“He’s doing pretty good,” said Danny Tarkanian. “I just spoke with him an hour ago and he’s happy everything is over with. We are all relieved. He seems to be doing fine.”