8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 24, 2010

Patriot Coal Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-33466	20-5622045
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(IRS Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
12312 Olive Boulevard, Suite 400
St. Louis, Missouri		63141
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (314) 275-3600

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

     On August 24, 2010, Patriot Coal Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that Paul H. Vining has resigned from his position as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company effective immediately. He continues in a senior advisory role with the Company for a transition period. Mr. Vining’s resignation is not the result of any disagreement between the Company and Mr. Vining concerning any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Company also announced that, effective August 24, 2010, Richard M. Whiting will assume the title of President in addition to his current role of Chief Executive Officer, and Charles A. Ebetino, Jr. will assume the position of Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer.

     A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
	99.1	Press Release dated August 24, 2010.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: August 25, 2010

PATRIOT COAL CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Mark N. Schroeder
	Mark N. Schroeder
	Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1*	Press Release dated August 24, 2010.

* Furnished herewith

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE
	CONTACT:
	Janine Orf
	(314) 275-3680
	jorf@patriotcoal.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PATRIOT COAL ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGES

     ST. LOUIS, August 24 – Patriot Coal Corporation announced today that Paul H. Vining is stepping down as President & Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. In order to ensure a smooth transition of his responsibilities, Mr. Vining has agreed to continue in a senior advisory role at Patriot for a period which could extend through the end of this year.

     The Company also announced that Charles A. Ebetino, Jr. will assume the position of Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for all of Patriot’s mining operations. Mr. Ebetino has served as Patriot’s Senior Vice President – Corporate Development since its 2007 spin-off. Ebetino has more than 30 years of operating and commercial experience in the coal and utility industries, including prior senior management roles at Peabody Energy and American Electric Power, where he served as President & Chief Operating Officer of AEP’s coal mining and coal-related subsidiaries from 1993 until 2002. “Chuck’s prior management experience, combined with his operating background and specific knowledge of Patriot’s operations, make him an excellent fit for this position,” stated Patriot Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Whiting. “His deep understanding of all aspects of coal mining and marketing will serve the Company well as he assumes this critical role,” continued Whiting.

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     As a result of this organizational change, Mr. Whiting will assume the role of President, while also continuing in his current capacity as Chief Executive Officer. In addition to Mr. Ebetino, who will continue to report to Whiting in his new role, Patriot’s senior management team will be configured as follows:

• Mark N. Schroeder will continue as Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, while assuming additional responsibilities for Corporate Development activities

• Robert W. Bennett will continue as Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, now reporting directly to Mr. Whiting

• Joseph W. Bean will continue as Senior Vice President – Law & Administration, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

     “We would like to thank Paul for his leadership and for his commitment to safe mining operations. Paul’s efforts have been key to the successful integration of the Magnum operations into Patriot over the past two years,” observed Whiting, “and we certainly wish him well with his future endeavors.”

About Patriot Coal

Patriot Coal Corporation is a leading producer and marketer of coal in the eastern United States, with 14 current mining complexes in Appalachia and the Illinois Basin. The Company ships to domestic and international electric utilities, industrial users and metallurgical coal customers, and controls approximately 1.8 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves. The Company’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PCX.

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