A new man will be behind the bench when the Vancouver Stealth look to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Stealth announced Jamie Batley has replaced Dan Perreault as the head coach of the National Lacrosse League squad on Tuesday morning.
“I’ve known Jamie for years and have always respected his knowledge of the game and his leadership,” said Stealth general manager Doug Locker, in a press release announcing the move.
“As one of the NLL’s top winning coaches, we believe he can put us in a strong position for the second half of the season.”
This will be Batley’s fourth time behind the bench of an NLL squad as the 49-year-old previously coached the Colorado Mammoth (2003-05), Chicago Shamrox (2006-08) and Toronto Rock (2009). His NLL record is 43-41.
The Peterborough, Ont. native is one of just 10 coaches in league history to have coached more than 80 games and posted a better-than .500 coaching record.
He has also won five Mann Cups as head coach of the Peterborough Lakers (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012).
“I have watched the (Vancouver) games this season and know they are a good group of players that are capable of going deep in the playoffs,” he said.
The Stealth are coming off a 9-6 loss on Sunday afternoon to the Toronto Rock, which dropped the team’s record to 3-7 with eight games to play.
Perreault took over as coach in 2015 and the team went 8-14 in that span. He joined the organization as a scout for 2011 and 2012 and was the team’s offensive coach in 2013 and 2014.
“I wish Dan all the best personally and professionally,” Locker said. “He has worked tirelessly on behalf of our organization and is a loyal and respected figure within the team and in the community.”
Batley was flying in from Ontario on Tuesday.
He will make his Stealth debut on Saturday night as Vancouver hosts the Saskatchewan Rush at the Langley Events Centre. Game time is 7 p.m.
Dan Brodie Vancouver Stealth file photo
Dan Perreault (right) has been let go as head coach of the Vancouver Stealth. Perreault had been with the team since 2011, first as a scout and then as offensive coach. He took over as head coach in 2015 but went just 8-14.
