SALT LAKE CITY (February 17, 2016) – Longtime Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment executive and Utah Jazz President Randy Rigby announced today his retirement after a distinguished career with the company beginning in 1986. Rigby will make the transition to serve as an organizational adviser at the end of the 2015-16 season. The Jazz will recognize his contributions to the franchise at an upcoming game.
“In my career reflections, I have decided that after 30 wonderful years with the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment to announce my retirement at the end of this season,” Rigby said. “I want to thank my family, the Miller family, the Jazz and NBA family, and this great community for the incredible memories, experiences, support and people that have been part of this choice journey. I am excited about the future of the Jazz and my continued involvement as an adviser. I look forward to remaining involved in the community and in pursuing new opportunities both personally and professionally. It has been a privilege to be part of this first-class organization.”
Steve Starks as president of Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment will also become president of the Utah Jazz. Since his appointment in March 2015, Starks has been overseeing the operation of the NBA team as the leader of the 10 sports and entertainment properties in the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies.
“Randy Rigby has left an indelible mark on this franchise and company in three decades of service,” said Clark Whitworth, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. “For the past year, we have been planning for this transition of leadership and Steve is prepared to take the reins. The Jazz are on solid footing due in part to the vision and passion of Randy through the years.”
“Randy has had a remarkable career and contributed in so many ways,” said Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. “He has been an excellent representative of the Jazz at the NBA level and in the community. We have been fortunate to have had his guiding hand on the franchise. Beyond his work, our family has appreciated his loyalty and friendship through the years."
“I look forward to Randy staying as part of the Jazz family for years to come,” Starks said. “His institutional knowledge and experience will continue to benefit us in our pursuit of developing a championship-caliber team.”
In his ninth season as president of the Utah Jazz, Rigby has been instrumental in a variety of areas: negotiating all the broadcasting rights agreements and expanding viewership for Jazz fans of all regular season games to a six-state region in high-definition; creating Utah’s first all-sports radio station and forming a 16-station intermountain radio network that airs Jazz games on FM radio; hiring Dennis Lindsey to the basketball front office and being part of the selection process of head coach Quin Snyder; and expanding Jazz player development by purchasing the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League. He also played a key role in the reinstitution of the Utah Jazz Summer League in 2015.
Rigby came to the Jazz from CFS Financial Corporation where he worked for three years as a senior vice president. He also served as president and chief operating officer of Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment and general manager of KJZZ-TV during his tenure. Rigby is a 1979 graduate of Brigham Young University, where he earned a degree in business management with a special emphasis in finance and marketing. He serves on various local and international boards. He and his wife, Sandra, have been married for 37 years. They have one son, four daughters, and 11 grandchildren.
Since joining the organization in 2007, Starks has contributed in a variety of leadership roles. He was executive vice president of the Larry H. Miller Management Corporation and was instrumental in the organization’s growth during that period. He is a graduate of Weber State University.
The LHMSE properties include the NBA’s Utah Jazz; MiLB’s Triple-A Salt Lake Bees; Vivint Smart Home Arena, which seats nearly 20,000 fans, and All-Star Catering; the Tour of Utah professional cycling race; independent television station KJZZ-TV; the sports radio stations comprising The Zone Sports Network; NBA D-League Idaho Stampede team; Megaplex Theatres and its 18 complexes; Fanzz Sports Stores with 119 locations in 22 states; and Saxton Horne Communications.