Lisa Love out, Patterson in at ASU

Arizona State University making some changes in leadership of the athletic department, naming Steve Patterson their new Athletics Director.

The change comes at the expense of former Athletic Director Lisa Love. Some reports indicate she was fired, while ASU’s official release states she wanted to pursue other career opportunities.

During Love’s tenure, which began in April 2005, she made some questionable decisions, leading to the baseball team being put on probation, the hiring of Dennis Erickson and Herb Sendek and an extension for Dirk Koetter that cost the school money.

In the university’s official release they thanked Love for her “seven years of excellent service”.

Patterson will continue to manage ASU’s athletic facilities, the business office, marketing and fund-raising operations as Chief Operating Officer of Athletics, while supporting the coaches and teams at the university as the Vice President for University Athletics and Athletics Director.

“In his time at ASU Steve Patterson has shown a level of sports management expertise rarely seen at the college and university level,” said President Michael M. Crow. “He is the ideal person to build on the foundation Lisa built and to take Sun Devil sports to the next level – to the highest level.”

Before coming to ASU in July 2011, Patterson worked in a variety of sports management positions. Some of those include in the NFL with the Houston Texans, in the NBA with the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers and in professional hockey with the Houston Aeros hockey team.

Click here to read the full press release from Arizona State athletics.

More reaction coming from press conference within the hour and on XTRASports 910 from 12-2.