The Coyotes yesterday named Steve Patterson President & CEO, with the hiring coming "less than a month after Patterson's predecessor, Anthony LeBlanc, stepped down after nearly four years on the job," according to Craig Morgan of ARIZONASPORTS.com. Patterson served as Arizona State AD from '11-13, before "leaving for the same post at Texas," a position he resigned from in September '15. Patterson has "relevant experience that could aid the Coyotes' long-running search for a new home." As Texans Senior VP & Chief Development Officer from '97-'03, Patterson was "responsible for the design, financing and construction" of NRG Stadium. He also "played a key role in the renovations" of Moda Center while Trail Blazers President from '03-07, and Toyota Center in Houston in the mid '90s. Patterson has also served as Pro Sports Consulting President and last year said that he was "involved in some capacity with the Coyotes' search for a new arena." Patterson said that the company will "go dormant while he focuses '100 percent on the Coyotes.'" The hope is that Patterson's local political and corporate relationships will "help facilitate an arena solution for the Coyotes." When Coyotes Managing Owner & Chair Andrew Barroway "bought out the minority owners last month, including LeBlanc, the team began a search for a new president and CEO immediately." Patterson was on the team's radar "from the outset" (ARIZONASPORTS.com, 7/12). In Phoenix, Sarah McLellan noted the Coyotes are "currently scheduled to play only next season at Gila River Arena in Glendale, but their existing contract will automatically extend" through '18-19 if they "don't indicate in writing by Dec. 30 that they don't want to renew" (AZCENTRAL.com, 7/12). The AP's John Marshall reported the Coyotes "also promoted" GM John Chayka to President of Hockey Operations (AP, 7/12).
