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Tippett: 'A lot of things built up' en route to Coyotes exit

Matt Kartozian / USA Today Sports

Shifting sands in the desert prompted Dave Tippett to walk away from the Arizona Coyotes.

After eight seasons, the club and head coach mutually agreed to end their relationship, citing philosophical differences. Tippett expanded on that Friday, pointing to recent and profound changes made by the Coyotes.

"It’s been a long go here trying to keep things going, and now with the change of ownership again - or change of direction again - the instability of the rink and stuff, it just seemed like the right time for them and for me," Tippett said, per Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports. "There’s nothing I could put my finger on. Just time for a change."

Andrew Barroway - a Philadelphia-based hedge fund manager - became the sole owner of the Coyotes on June 12 after buying out the club's minority owners. That led to the trade of goaltender Mike Smith and a parting of ways with longtime captain Shane Doan, all of which also weighed heavily on Tippett.

"You feel it’s time for a change," Tippett continued. "I feel like I needed a change now. Seemed like the right time with ownership changing and Doaner and Smitty - not that those are excuses. But just a lot of things built up and just time to try something new."

Tippett will take some time to relax and be with family, but expects to be back behind a bench at some point.

"Oh yeah," he said. "I’ll keep coaching."

Tippett won the Jack Adams Award in 2010 and coached the Coyotes to the Western Conference Finals in 2012.

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