PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen announced Wednesday the new team president will be Steve Patterson, currently a vice president with the NFL's Houston Texans.

Allen said he wants Patterson to help restore the public image of the Blazers, who have suffered from a string of public relations problems in the past year, from player arrests on drug charges to fights between team members.

"You have to step up and take things in a different direction,'' Allen said. "I want that excitement to return to the maximum degree that it can.''

Patterson had spent nine years with the Houston Rockets as the team's general manager and general counsel and helped build the franchise into the NBA champions in 1994 and 1995 before joining the Texans to run Reliant Stadium.

At a news conference with Allen, Patterson said he will work to rebuild fan interest in the Blazers.

"Obviously there are a lot of challenges in the last year given the issues both on and off the floor,'' Patterson said.

"We need to put together a franchise that's smart, tough and classy and plays consistent basketball. If you have those elements you'll have a franchise the community can be proud of,'' Patterson said.

In Houston, Texans owner and president Bob McNair said he wished Patterson well.

"I'm delighted he has the opportunity he does,'' McNair said. "I think they need him and I think it's a great opportunity and I think he's going to perform very well.''

Patterson, a 1984 graduate of the University of Texas Law School, became one of Houston's most successful professional sports executives, moving from the NBA Rockets to the International Hockey League's Aeros to the NFL's Texans.

During his tenure as the Rockets' general manager from 1989-93, Patterson drafted Alabama's Robert Horry, signed free agent Matt Bullard, and negotiated trades for Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, Otis Thorpe and Carl Herrera. All were key parts of the Rockets' 1994 NBA championship team.

Patterson will be the first of two hires to replace Bob Whitsitt, who served as the Blazers president and general manager for the past nine years and announced his resignation last month from the team effective July 1.

The Blazers are still searching for a separate general manager, and have received permission to speak with Sacramento Kings vice president Wayne Cooper, a former Portland player.

Whitsitt, who for years has been a lightning rod for fan displeasure with the Blazers, said he wanted to focus on the Seattle Seahawks, which Allen -- the co-founder of Microsoft -- also owns.

Current Blazers executive vice president Erin Hubert has also expressed interest in the job.

Patterson and his wife, Yasmin, have three children ages 4 to 10.