Jim Lites
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James R. "Jim" Lites (Born in 1953 in Pentwater, Michigan) is an American sports executive who currently serves as President of Hicks Sports Marketing Group. He was formerly the president of the Dallas Stars of the NHL, and president of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball.
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[edit] Early life and education
Jim Lites was born and raised in Pentwater, Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors from the University of Michigan in 1975 and graduated cum laude from Wayne State University Law School in 1978. He specialized in litigation and labor contract negotiations.
[edit] Detroit Red Wings
Before joining Dallas in 1993 Jim Lites served 11 years as executive vice president of the Detroit Red Wings, who during his stint won three Norris Division Championships and two Norris Division Playoff Championships, after having missed the playoffs in 10 of the 11 seasons before his hiring. During his tenure, the Red Wings were named by Financial World magazine as the most valuable franchise in the NHL in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. Lites was also instrumental in the defection of former Soviet stars Sergei Fedorov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Vladimir Konstantinov, all of whom would play important parts of the Red Wings' Stanley Cup Championship teams of 1997, 1998, and 2002.
In Detroit, Lites also served as Chief Operating Officer of Olympia Arenas, Inc., one of the Midwest's largest facility management companies. He was also responsible for the redevelopment of Detroit's historic Fox Theatre, now the most successful entertainment venue of its type in the United States and the cornerstone of Detroit's growing northside sports, entertainment and gaming complexes.
[edit] Dallas Stars
He was originally named president and alternate governor of the Stars on June 9, 1993. Since he first joined the Stars, the team has won seven Division Championships, three Western Conference Championships, two Presidents' Trophies and the 1999 Stanley Cup.
[edit] Texas Rangers
When Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks bought the Texas Rangers from George W. Bush in 1999 he named Lites the new president of the team. He was officially installed on May 7, 1999 becoming one of four executives in professional sports to head the front office of more than one organization at one time. He was on the board of Major League Baseball for three years, and had the same responsibilities with the Rangers that he had with the Stars before leaving for Phoenix.
[edit] Phoenix Coyotes
He joined the Phoenix Coyotes in March of 2002 as President and Chief Operating Officer. He would serve only one season (eight months) before returning to the Dallas Stars.
[edit] Hicks Sports Marketing Group
The Dallas Stars had a mediocre start to the 2007–2008 NHL season, initially going 7–7–3. On November 13, 2007, after a meltdown by the team in Los Angeles (losing 6–5 in OT after leading 4–0 with 7 minutes remaining in the game, Lites dismissed General Manager Doug Armstrong, and replaced them with the tandem of Brett Hull and Les Jackson.
The next day, team owner and chairman Tom Hicks reassigned Lites to head Hicks Sports Marketing Group. Lites will oversee the sponsorship and marketing of the Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, Liverpool Football Club and Mesquite Championship Rodeo.
