PHOENIX -- Despite a disappointing debut season as an NHL coach, Wayne Gretzky has decided to remain behind the Phoenix Coyotes' bench.

Gretzky agreed to a five-year deal to remain coach of the Coyotes, a team official told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

The Coyotes have called a Wednesday news conference to announce the deal.

The official, who declined to be identified because the announcement had not yet been made, confirmed media reports that Gretzky had decided to return.

Gretzky's decision was not a surprise. Owner Jerry Moyes said recently that he expected Gretzky, who is also the team's managing partner, to return and that the Coyotes had no plans to find a replacement.

Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer, led the Coyotes to a 38-39-5 record last season, his first as an NHL head coach.

It was a trying debut season for the 44-year-old Gretzky. The first setback came when Brett Hull, a likely future Hall of Famer brought in to provide veteran leadership, retired five games into the season. Injuries to goalie Brian Boucher in the exhibition season and to Ladislav Nagy in February also hurt the team.

Gretzky also dealt with the death of his mother, Phyllis, at 64 because of lung cancer. And there was the February arrest of assistant coach Rick Tocchet, a friend of Gretzky's, for allegedly running an illegal sports gambling ring. The scandal touched Gretzky when it was revealed that his wife, Janet, had placed bets.

But as the Coyotes cleaned out their lockers April 18, Gretzky seemed to be leaning toward returning.

"You couldn't ask to live and be in a better city or be in a better situation," Gretzky said then. "But how long I was going to coach, I wasn't sure. But I will say this: I truly have enjoyed it much more than I probably anticipated when I started in September."