Arizona State Decides to Stick With Patterson

Steve Patterson, the interim basketball coach at Arizona State, was officially appointed to the coaching job Friday in a surprise announcement.

There had been speculation that Patterson would not be retained. The Sun Devils are currently 8-8 overall, 2-4 in Pac-10 play, and have lost seven of their last nine games.

The team’s leading scorer, sophomore forward Chris Sandle, was declared academically ineligible last week. Two other players--senior guard Ron Singleton and senior center Jon Taylor--were dropped from the team earlier for academic problems and disciplinary action, respectively.

“I have concluded that Steve Patterson has done a remarkable job in a very adverse set of circumstances and I think it’s now appropriate that he be given the opportunity to make the very best of this program,” Arizona State Athletic Director Charles Harris said.

Patterson, 37, was named interim coach on Aug. 15 after Bob Weinhauer was fired in the wake of consecutive losing seasons.