Steve Kerr talks to the media after the Suns lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals/Photo by Emmanuel Lozano, The Arizona Republic

Former University of Arizona star Steve Kerr, who has been the general manager of the Phoenix Suns for the past three seasons, will step down when his contract expires on June 30, according to the Arizona Republic.

The story says Kerr will return to television in a role as NBA analyst, presumably to fill a spot at TNT, which recently lost Doug Collins, who became the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Kerr previously worked for TNT.

The Suns were 54-28 in the 2009-10 regular season, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

Kerr seems to have set the Suns on a good path, although not all of his moves worked out … and his tenure certainly wasn’t dull.

Bringing in Terry Porter as coach and Shaquille O’Neal as the answer at center were disasters, but at least Kerr quickly acknowledged the mistakes. He fired Porter after 51 games and spent just a year-and-a-half with the Big Cactus.

On the plus side, Kerr kept Steve Nash and Grant Hill, hired coach Alvin Gentry, reconfigured the bench, brought in sharp-shooting ex-cat forward Channing Frye last season and drafted still-promising 7-footer Robin Lopez in the 2008 first round, although that seemed like a reach at the time.

“It’s definitely been an interesting three years for both of us and the organization,” Suns managing partner Robert Sarver told the Republic.

“Overall, I think he did a very good job to put us on solid ground with players and coaches, getting a defensive emphasis and got the ground laid on teamwork and chemistry. We’re in a pretty good spot moving forward and a lot of it has to do with moves he’s made. There were some good moves and bad moves, which goes with the job. But overall, I think he’s done a very good job.”

RELATED: The Republic has a slideshow of Kerr, mostly from his time as the Suns’ GM

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