NLL Insider

Dave Huntley named Philadelphia Wings new GM. (Photo: Dave Sanders)

The Philadelphia Wings have announced that current team head coach, Dave Huntley, will also be serving as the club’s GM after the franchise parted ways with Lindsay Sanderson last month.

“The ownership has conducted an extensive study of the positives and negatives of our organization,” said Wings’ Owner and President Russ Cline via a press release. 

“All the players and staff participated in an open and honest evaluation of where we are today and what it will take to win a league championship.”

The Wings championship draught now spans the previous eight NLL seasons, only making the playoffs in two of those years, both times being knocked out in their first and only match (’02 lost 12-11 vs. Washington and ‘08 lost 14-12 vs. Buffalo).

Philadelphia finished with a 7-9 record in 2009, fifth best in the East, finishing ahead of only the Toronto Rock (6-10). Although their seven wins tied them on paper with the Rochester Knighthawks, the Hawks owned the tie-breaker, locking up their spot in this past season’s playoffs.

“We determined that Dave Huntley deserves the opportunity to lead us and can do that more effectively as General Manager and Head Coach,” Cline added.

Huntley had previously served as the franchise’s first GM way back in the 1987-88 season with the Wings during the league’s first year in existence, formerly known as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League.

The current Toronto Nationals’ head coach will also remain as the Wings’ bench boss, entering his third year at the helm in 2010. The team sports a 17-15 record since Huntley’s hiring leading into the ‘08 regular season.

“I appreciate the confidence our owners have demonstrated in me in expanding my duties,” said Huntley. “We have identified the improvements we need to make to our team and our processes to play consistent winning lacrosse and are working to affect those changes.”

Huntley’s likely first major decisions will be made leading up to September’s NLL Entry Draft, where the Wings do not currently own a first round pick and at least presently, do not select until the 16th overall pick.

Before that however, Huntley may be adding a vet during an expected, but yet to be officially announced, Portland Lumberjax Expansion Draft. It’s expected the Wings would more than likely own the potential draft’s fourth overall pick.

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