The Philadelphia Wings dipped into their vast history Thursday to select a new head coach, hiring four-time Team Canada skipper Dave Huntley.

For the Wings, it's déjà vu of the longest sort -- Huntley was the team's general manager in its first season, 1987, and also played for the team.

In the meantime, Huntley has built upon what was already a diverse lacrosse résumé, coaching the Canadian national men's field lacrosse team four times (most recently as an assistant coach for the 2006 world champions) and serving as the general manager of the Pittsburgh CrosseFire.

"Dave brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Wings," general manager Lindsay Sanderson said. "I believe his positive approach will be very successful with our young team and I am looking forward to working with him."

Huntley replaces Sanderson behind the bench, following a decision by team ownership to assemble an entirely new coaching staff.

In that move, Sanderson went from being both head coach and general manager to holding only the latter title, while his brother Terry and nephew Chris were dismissed as assistant coaches.

Sanderson has been widely hailed for the talented roster he has assembled in Philadelphia, but in three years as head coach, he could coax only a 21-27 record from his players.

"Dave and Lindsay will form one of the most powerful lacrosse brain trusts in the National Lacrosse League," team owner and president Russ Cline said.

"Dave has some new ideas, which we feel complement our young team. We're excited to welcome him to Philadelphia and are confident that he can have an immediate impact on making the Wings a winning team."

Huntley was a three-time All-America player at Johns Hopkins University in late 1970s and was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Bayhawks for three seasons, including 2005, the club's most recent championship season.