Wilson finds new job behind Toronto bench

Toronto -- Ron Wilson has been hired to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs, his fourth NHL head coaching assignment.

Wilson was fired by the San Jose Sharks after that team was eliminated in the second round of this year's playoffs. He's also coached at Washington and Anaheim over a 14-season coaching career.

"This is an unbelievable day for me," Wilson said Tuesday at a Toronto news conference. "Obviously, when you lose your job in this league, you wonder if you'll ever get another one. I'm the happiest person in the National Hockey League today."

Wilson replaces Paul Maurice behind the Maple Leafs' bench. Maurice had a 76-66-22 record in two seasons. Toronto hasn't qualified for the NHL playoffs in three seasons, the longest such drought in franchise history.

In 1,091 games as an NHL coach, Wilson has a record of 518-446-127. He had a mark of 206-134-45 with the Sharks, who reached the Western Conference finals in his first full season but were knocked out in the conference semifinals each of the past three seasons.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.