The last time the Vancouver Stealth franchise made a mid-season coaching move, it sparked the team all the way to the division finals that season, and then ultimately, the Champion's Cup the following year.
The Stealth are hoping to recapture that magic.
Head coach Dan Perreault was fired on Monday following the Stealth's third straight — and fifth in their past six games — defeat, a 9-6 setback at the hands of the Toronto Rock.
The loss dropped Vancouver to 3-7 on the season and with eight games to play, the team sits just a half-game behind Calgary (4-7) with a game in hand.
"That's the reason you do something like this now," said Vancouver general manager Doug Locker.
"You have got to change the dynamic and you can't change out 20-something players to make the kind of impact you want to make."
Locker said that on paper, the Stealth have a talented roster but for whatever reason, that hasn't translated into success in terms of wins and losses, so the decision was made to change the voice.
Locker was an assistant general manager for that 2009 squad which replaced Jeff Dowling with assistant coach Chris Hall.
But this time, the organization has gone outside for their new head coach, hiring Jamie Batley. The announcement was made on Tuesday morning.
He has coached for three NLL teams, compiling a record of 43-41. His last stop in the league was with Colorado in 2009.
Batley, 49, has also coached senior A lacrosse, winning five Mann Cups and six Major Series Lacrosse championships in 10 seasons at the helm of the Peterborough Lakers. That includes when the Lakers beat the Langley Thunder in 2012.
"I've known Jamie for years and have always respected his knowledge of the game and his leadership," Locker said.
"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."
Locker said Batley is just one of 10 coaches in league history to boast an above .500 winning percentage among coaches who have at least 80 games experience.
And of those 10, the GM said five are currently employed and three — including Hall — have passed away. That left Batley and Darris Kilgour. Kilgour has the most wins in NLL history with a record of 121-85.
But Locker targeted Batley and landed him.
The new coach is experienced and well-rounded, with more of a defensive background. He will retain Perreault's existing staff.
"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," Batley said in a press release.
He will make his debut behind the Stealth bench on Saturday night when they host the Saskatchewan Rush at the Langley Events Centre.
Perreault said the firing was disappointing but not all that surprising.
"I understand pro sports and coaching and how it all works," he said. "It is based on wins and losses, I understand that."
And he feels the team is close and could make a run if they get into the playoffs.
"There are some good things happening with the team," he said, citing the fact they have tightened up defensively, especially.
Stealth captain Curtis Hodgson — who was on that 2009 squad which made a coaching change — said the players need to be accountable.
"With the record that we have, I feel the organization is doing it to send a message that it is not acceptable. As players, we need to take some accountability for being 3-7 as well," he said.
"Ultimately, they made a change based on the fact we are 1-5 in our last six games. We need to fix that."
"It is frustrating. Dan is a character guy, a good guy."
Hodgson spoke with his former coach on Monday night.
"It is the business of professional sports and we all understand that winning is ultimately what we are measured by," he said.
"But I would be lying if I didn't say there is accountability on the players, knowing that we need to be playing better and that reflected in Dan's being let go."
Hodgson said the players know they could be the next ones caught up in changes if things don't improve, especially considering the team has missed the post-season the last two years.
"They are bringing in someone who is a fresh voice and a fresh set of eyes. Probably some new ideas. It will be up to us to do what we are asked, play hard. We are all committed," he said.
"We have a good team on paper, It is just a matter of us coming together and performing in all facets of the game."