Jim Lites
Encyclopedia
James R. "Jim" Lites is an American sports executive who currently serves as President of the Dallas Stars
of the NHL. He was formerly the president of Hicks Sports Marketing Group
, and president of the Texas Rangers
of Major League Baseball
, all of which are holdings of Tom Hicks
. Lites was briefly President and COO of the Phoenix Coyotes
from March through December 2002.
He was brought back as president of the Dallas Stars
on November 18, 2011 when the club was sold to Tom Gaglardi
.
Lites had previously served as an executive in the front office of the Detroit Red Wings
during the 1980s. He was instrumental in bringing Czech defector Petr Klima
to the NHL
.
Lites holds a bachelors degree from the University of Michigan
and a law degree from Wayne State University Law School
.
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 oversees the sponsorship and marketing of the Dallas Stars
and did so for Texas Rangers
, Liverpool Football Club and Mesquite Championship Rodeo
until they were sold.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
of the NHL. He was formerly the president of Hicks Sports Marketing Group
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
, and president of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, all of which are holdings of Tom Hicks
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
. Lites was briefly President and COO of the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
from March through December 2002.
He was brought back as president of the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
on November 18, 2011 when the club was sold to Tom Gaglardi
Tom Gaglardi
R. Thomas Gaglardi , is a Canadian Business Executive, and owner of the Dallas Stars, of the National Hockey League.-Career:Gaglardi is president of Northland Properties Corporation, which he and his family own...
.
Lites had previously served as an executive in the front office of the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
during the 1980s. He was instrumental in bringing Czech defector Petr Klima
Petr Klima
Petr Klíma is a Czech former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, and the Pittsburgh Penguins...
to the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
Lites holds a bachelors degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and a law degree from Wayne State University Law School
Wayne State University Law School
Wayne State University Law School is located in the City of Detroit’s Cultural Center, and is one of the schools of Wayne State University. It is one of two public law schools in the state of Michigan. The Law School has educated and trained lawyers since 1927, and its 10,000+ alumni serve as...
.
Hicks Sports Marketing Group
The Dallas StarsDallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
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
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
(losing 6–5 in OT after leading 4–0 with 7 minutes remaining in the game, Lites dismissed General Manager Doug Armstrong
Doug Armstrong
Douglas "Doug" Armstrong is the General Manager for the NHL's St. Louis Blues. He is also the former General Manager of the Dallas Stars.-Dallas Stars:...
, and replaced them with the tandem of Brett Hull
Brett Hull
Brett Andrew Hull is a former Canadian-American NHL player and the former Executive Vice President of the Dallas Stars. He is the son of Bobby Hull and nephew of Dennis Hull, both former NHL players. Hull is also known as "The Golden Brett," which is a play off of his father's nickname, "The...
and Les Jackson
Les Jackson (ice hockey)
Les Jackson is a former professional ice hockey player, coach, scout and co-general manager of the Dallas Stars. Jackson is currently the director of scouting and player development for the Stars. Jackson was selected in the 4th round of the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, 64th overall, by the Boston...
.
The next day, team owner and chairman Tom Hicks
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
reassigned Lites to head Hicks Sports Marketing Group. Lites oversees the sponsorship and marketing of the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
and did so for Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Liverpool Football Club and Mesquite Championship Rodeo
Mesquite Championship Rodeo
The Mesquite Championship Rodeo is a rodeo located in Mesquite, Texas that operates during rodeo season .Founded in 1958 by Neal Gay as a permanent rodeo , the rodeo struggled in the early years, but grew as the city of Mesquite grew...
until they were sold.