The Golden State Warriors have named Rick Welts as the team’s new President and Chief Operating Officer, it was announced this evening.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Welts, 58, will oversee all business-related operations for the Warriors and will report directly to the organization’s Co-Managing Partners, Joe Lacob and Peter Guber.  He joins the Warriors following a nine-year stint with the Phoenix Suns where he served the organization as President and Chief Executive Officer for the last two seasons.  He resigned on September 9.  

“Peter Guber and I have made it quite clear since we assumed control of this team in November that we’re looking to build a world class organization from top to bottom,” said Lacob.  “We feel that we’ve taken a quantum leap in that direction today with the addition of Rick Welts as our President and COO.  Rick is simply one of the most highly-regarded executives in the NBA and his accomplishments at both the team and league levels are extremely impressive.  He’s been an integral part of every organization that he’s worked for in the NBA, including the league office in New York, where he earned the respect and admiration of David Stern, as well as with the SuperSonics in Seattle and the Suns in Phoenix.  His track record in all facets of the business – sponsorship, marketing, public relations, event management, team services, merchandising – and his ability to be strategically creative and cutting-edge make him the ideal candidate to lead our organization.  Quite honestly, I’m convinced that we could not have found a better candidate for the job.”