Jerry Colangelo ceased being a Suns shot caller more than a year ago and he will lose his title of chief executive officer after this season.

When Robert Sarver and his partners make a $65 million June payment to complete the franchise's sale, Colangelo steps down as CEO but not out.

With "a fire still burning inside me," he said he intends to remain the team's chairman until at least 2012. That salaried position was part of the initial sale agreement in 2004, but the contentious departure of Colangelo's son, Bryan, made many doubt if he would want to remain part of the organization beyond the final payment.

"There's nothing to cause me to change anything we agreed to," Colangelo said. "The transition has taken a lot less time than anyone thought. It was important for Robert and his people to establish their identity and they've done that quickly. I'm more than comfortable with that."