After the Portland Winterhawks didn't renew his head coaching contract following the 2006-07 Western Hockey League season, Mike Williamson decided to renew his focus.

And on Wednesday, he started over with the Calgary Hitmen.

The 36-year-old signed a multiyear deal, becoming the seventh head coach in franchise history, succeeding Dave Lowry who recently accepted an assistant coaching gig with the Calgary Flames.

"We weren't making the decision, one way or the other," said Williamson, a Leduc native, of his stint away from the game. "When I stepped away and was away from coaching, we were going to see where that led. Whether I was hungry and missed it and needed to get back, as it turned out to be, or if life was going to take us somewhere else."

Following the summer of 2007, Williamson reportedly sued the team after an alleged breach of contract with previous owners and former president Jack Donovan and principal owner Jim Goldsmith.

Although Williamson wouldn't comment on the situation, he's stayed "a long ways away from the game" since leaving the WHL and, up until last weekend, had been working in business development as the operations manager of Northwest Sleevewear in Portland.

"(Working with the Winterhawks) was a big part of my life, it's where I met my wife (Michelle) and started my family (two young kids Leeah, 5, and Nicholas, 2).

"From afar, I hope they do well but not when they're in Calgary or we're in Portland."

Meanwhile, the dispute didn't sway Hitmen general manager Kelly Kisio's decision.

"I think it's over, I don't know for sure," said Kisio of any legal issues with Portland. "I believe it was a conflict between the old owners of the Portland Winterhawks and Mike on what happened when he was finished there."

"Whatever happened might have turned him off hockey for a year, or so. But I think his energy level will be right there where it needs to be to put in the days that we put in here."

Williamson was promoted from his assistant coach post in Portland when former head coach Harold Snepsts resigned partway through the 1999-2000 season.

When he left the Winterhawks after the 2006-07 season, he had a record of 219 wins, 248 losses, 33 overtime/ shootout losses and 31 ties.

"I was in Portland for a little over 15 years. It's a long time in one place in this industry," said the former Winterhawks defenceman who won a Memorial Cup as a coach in the 1997-98 season. "I was a little bit exhausted, I guess, when it ended but I missed it pretty quick."

While the remainder of the Hitmen coaching staff will remain intact, Kisio said neither assistant -- Joel Otto or Kisio's son, Brent--were considered for the job.

Williamson knows he has big shoes to fill as Lowry guided last year's group of Hitmen to a WHL-best regular season record (59-9-3-1) as the team established or equalled 22 franchise records.

"They've set the bar high here," noted Williamson. "Kelly's done an incredible job of structuring teams for success.

"That hunger is something that's part of the culture here. . . . As successful as they were last year, they were still mad because they had a championship in mind.

"I'm just really excited to get to talk to the guys and see them in a few weeks."

kodland@theherald.canwest.com