Steve Patterson had no plans to take over the athletic director position at Arizona State University when he was hired as chief operation officer in July 2011.

But, here is is, taking over at a time when Arizona State is yearning to be more -- so much more -- than it has been in recent times.

And, as Patterson told Arizona Sports 620's Burns and Gambo, there is no reason the school should strive for any less.

"I'm excited about where we're headed," Patterson said. "We've got great opportunities here, we've got great potential resources, we've got a wonderful city and I really look forward to trying to build something here that's long lasting and a great success."

Patterson is taking over for a school that has struggled in big revenue sports like football and basketball, which is a key reason for why Love was relieved of her duties. However, Patterson's background is more from professional sports -- as he spent time with the NFL's Houston Texans and the NBA's Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers - - leaving some to wonder how he will fare running a collegiate program.

"I think, as an administrator, you hire people that are experts in certain areas," Patterson said, noting that he was not an expert in things like NCAA compliance and tutoring before arriving, so the school hired people to fill those roles. "When I look at it, I've handled coaches, handled players, handled the press, handled the significant financial folks that are involved, be they sponsors, naming rights people, public elected and appointed officials for 35 years.

"It's much the same skill-set in this environment as it would be in a professional environment and, quite frankly, given the size of budgets and the business pressures that the universities as a whole are under, more and more universities are turning to people that have professional skills to help them with their athletic departments."

So, if fans shouldn't expect much of a learning curve for Patterson, should they anticipate big changes soon?

Not exactly.

"We don't have any plans on making immediate changes to the coaching staff," Patterson said, before noting how many of the school's programs are experiencing success. "I think many of the coaches are doing a good job with what they've been charged with so far."

However, where Patterson said there will be changes, is how the administration interacts with the coaches and their teams.

"In the past we didn't present a business plan each year and discuss that with each one of our individual coaches," Patterson said.

The business plan will explain what is expected from each team with regards to performance on the floor, financially and in growing the ASU brand.

"It's a bit of a change, but I think it's a good one for us and one that's going to give us a great deal of success going forward."

That's one area ASU can improve. Another? Better communication, be it with ASU fans or with the athletic department in general.

"We need to reach out in the community, do a far better job of involving our alumni, do a far better job of involving our former student-athletes and our donors," Patterson said, "so that people really understand the good things we're doing here and that we do a better job of communicating that to them and to get them emotionally involved in what we're trying to do here."