Former Arizona State athletic director Steve Patterson is returning to the Valley as the Arizona Coyotes' new president and CEO, the Coyotes announced Wednesday.
Patterson was ASU's athletic director from 2012-13. Before that, he was the COO of Sun Devil Athletics and managing director of Sun Devil Sports Group.
Patterson fills a role that was vacated by former Coyotes co-owner Anthony LeBlanc, who stepped down as the team's president and CEO after majority owner Andrew Barroway agreed to buy out LeBlanc and the rest of the team's minority owners in June.
"My wife and I love living in the Valley of the Sun and we are so excited to return to Arizona," the 59-year-old Patterson said in a statement. "The Valley is a great hockey market with an incredibly loyal and passionate fan base.
"I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Barroway to create a successful franchise on and off the ice and I'm very excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead."
Patterson has a great deal of experience at the professional sports level: He previously served as general manager of the Houston Rockets, president of the Portland Trail Blazers, senior vice president of the Houston Texans and president of the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros. He's currently the president of Pro Sports Consulting.
Patterson served as the athletic director at The University of Texas at Austin from 2013-15.
"Steve has a wealth of experience and has served as an innovative and successful executive in the NFL, NBA, professional hockey, professional baseball and college athletics for over 30 years. He's built championship teams and organizations and has managed stadiums, ballparks and arenas across the United States," Barroway said.
"Most importantly, he previously worked in our market and has the necessary corporate and political relationships to help us secure a long-term home for the Coyotes in the Valley. We're thrilled to have him join us."
The hire is the second significant move the Coyotes have made in as many days. On Tuesday, former Coyotes player and assistant coach Rick Tocchet was announced as the team's new head coach.
