VOORHEES, N.J. -- When the Philadelphia Flyers fired Bill Barber two weeks ago, they planned to conduct a long, exhaustive search to find a new coach.

		In Ken Hitchcock, the Philadelphia Flyers have hired the coach with the biggest, longest and greatest pedigree available. Hitchcock is a very structured coach going to a team that was craving structure. His previous stint with the organization as an assistant coach is a plus. Hitchcock inherits a team loaded with quality veterans, like Mark Recchi, John LeClair, Keith Primeau, Jeremy Roenick, Eric Desjardins and Eric Weinrich. As long as he is willing to listen to his senior players, he will be a good fit. Clement's complete analysis

It took just one interview.

Ken Hitchcock, who led the Dallas Stars to a Stanley Cup championship in 1999, was hired Tuesday to lead the Flyers. He was the only candidate to meet with the team.

"When we made that statement, we were worried that Ken was on his way to the Rangers," team chairman Ed Snider said. "Fortunately, that wasn't the case. We jumped in right away. He's exactly the coach this team needs."

Hitchcock, who served as an assistant coach in Philadelphia from 1990-93, was fired by the Stars in January. He met with Snider and general manager Bob Clarke on Monday, and worked out details on a four-year contract Tuesday.

"It's like home for me," Hitchcock said. "There isn't going to be a transition time."

Barber was fired four days after the Flyers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.

Hitchcock, 50, is the fifth coach hired by Clarke since 1997, when Terry Murray was fired despite leading Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup finals.

"We've had so much instability that it's embarrassing to me," Snider said. "I can assure you he will be here for the duration of his contract."

A demanding coach whose philosophy centers on defense, Hitchcock said there are many things alike between the Flyers and the Stars.

"There's a similar situation of a desperation to learn and the commitment that the players have reached the stage where they hopefully are willing to listen and learn," Hitchcock said.

Barber was let go after the Flyers scored a record-low two goals in five games against the Ottawa Senators. The NHL's coach of the year last season, Barber failed to take the team past the first round two straight years.

His firing came one day after several players criticized his coaching methods, and blamed him for the playoff collapse.

"I saw the same thing in January in Dallas," Hitchcock said. "I understand that part of it. There's also frustration there. That's a lot of emotion."

Hitchcock interviewed with the New York Rangers last month, before he went to Europe to serve as an assistant coach for Team Canada in the World Championships. But the Rangers are reportedly seeking former U.S. Olympic coach Herb Brooks.

Washington, which fired Ron Wilson last Friday, was interested in Hitchcock, and Dallas owner Tom Hicks reportedly planned to offer him his old job.

"We always felt that Ken was our No. 1 choice," Clarke said. "We felt it wasn't necessary to interview other candidates.

After leaving the Flyers, Hitchcock coached Kalamazoo, Dallas' minor-league affiliate, from 1993-96.

He took over as the Stars coach midway through the 1995-96 season, led Dallas to Stanley Cup finals appearances in 1999 and 2000 and five straight division titles.

Hitchcock has a 277-160-60-6 record in the regular season, and is 47-33 in the playoffs.

The Stars were 23-17-6-4 when Hitchcock was fired Jan. 25, but didn't make the playoffs for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

"I'm confident I can build a team," Hitchcock said. "Before you can talk about winning, you have to build a team, a group that's tight and cohesive and has a real spirit to battle and fight together."

Surprisingly, Hitchcock said he doesn't want to have a say in personnel decisions.

"I don't care. Whatever is on the ice, I'm going to try and get everything out of," he said. "If they want my input on a player, great."

Hitchcock is the 15th head coach in Flyers history. He won a gold medal as an associate coach with Team Canada at the Olympics this year.