After the 2025 Springfield College men’s lacrosse season comes to an end, the Pride will have to do something they haven’t done in over 42 years – search for a new head coach.
On Dec. 16, Keith Bugbee announced that he will be retiring from coaching following the 2025 spring season, capping a hall of fame career. Bugbee has accumulated the fifth-most wins in collegiate lacrosse history and won back-to-back United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division II Coach of the Year honors in 1994 and 1995. He also was victorious in 12 straight conference titles from 2008-19, and earned a spot in the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2002. Those accolades could’ve awarded Bugbee retirement a decade ago, but he didn’t stay to prove his status.
“It’s been 42 years where I haven’t felt like I’ve come to work. I’ve just enjoyed it so much,” Bugbee said. “This job is a lifestyle, and I’ve embraced that lifestyle. I’ve loved the colleague part, the relationship part. I’m not looking forward to being done with that. That’s what makes it such a bittersweet thing.”
Retirement is oftentimes sparked by a certain event that takes place in someone’s life, or maybe someone knows, when they know. For Bugbee, there was never going to be a perfect time, yet he felt it had to be done.
“I always told myself I’ll never stay too long,” Bugbee said. “I’ll never get to a point where I’m coaching, going through the motions, or I’m checked out, where the guys don’t feel my passion or my enthusiasm and energy. I don’t feel that at all, so I want to leave on a good note.”
Coaches are always under pressure from administration, players, and even family and alumni, but the Springfield lacrosse community has always been Bugbee’s biggest supporting cast, from every aspect of life.
When Bugbee realized it was time to retire after the upcoming season, he first told his wife Jane. Bugbee originally thought of waiting until the final game to let everyone else know, including his players. After having conversations with Jane, Bugbee realized he should let his team know sooner rather than later. Jane emphasized that if Bugbee let his immediate family know, he shouldn’t keep it a secret from his other family: his players and the community. Right before winter break, Bugbee informed the team of his retirement inside of Stagg Field’s newest edition – the Bugbee Family Pavilion.
“Telling them definitely wasn’t easy,” Bugbee said. “But what made it better was that we have 18 guys this year who are in their last year of eligibility. They stayed after [I told them I’m retiring], and I let them know that we’re on this last ride together.”
Bugbee never waivered through a rough 0-8 start last year, and had no thoughts of retirement. Even after ending the season by winning seven of the last nine contests and completely turning the season around, Bugbee still won’t acknowledge his accomplishments, rather wanting to make an ever-lasting impact on the program.
“It‘s not easy to win here, but you can definitely win some games when you have a group of kids like we always do,” Bugbee said. “If people talk about me, I hope they say that I’m a good guy, and that they created a bond with me, and that I was a man of principle.”
The coach’s illustrious career is evident walking into Bugbee’s office. The walls are filled from carpet to ceiling with each of the 66 All-American plaques that come from players coached under him; some of which have followed in his footsteps to become lacrosse coaches, and all of whom are proud alumni. The coaching search following this season will be highly anticipated, and Bugbee has a simple message to his successor:
“Love the alums and the guys as much as I do.”
Photo Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics