Keith Bugbee was just 25 years old when he was hired as the men’s lacrosse head coach at Springfield College 42 years ago. Bugbee wanted his legacy to be leaving the school better than he found it. After piling up 422 career wins to go along with a dozen conference titles, he’s accomplished just that – but Bugbee’s vision is much more than wins and losses.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, Bugbee was honored with the unveiling of the Bugbee Family Pavilion, an open-concept building adjacent to Stagg Field that allows families to watch games and have post-game meals, while also serving as a film room for various programs. Hours before the grand opening, around 100 former players participated in the alumni game on the east field.
Usually, the alumni game hosts around 40 former student-athletes, but the Pavilion opening was a can’t miss event for most alumni. The national champion coach didn’t participate in the game, but humbly took in the day’s importance.
“I’m uncomfortable. Obviously, I’m full of gratitude, full of joy. I’m still trying to figure out how to say thank you. I never thought I’d have a place with our name on it when I came here,” Bugbee said. “More importantly, it’s so awesome connecting with my former players. Some of these guys I haven’t seen in 30 or 40 years. This is something I’ll never forget.”
With over 300 people attending the festivities, Bugbee was overcome with emotion as he spoke during the ceremony. Moments of pauses were instantly met with massive applause. In his speech, Bugbee asserted a compelling phrase that even got affirmation from the crowd.
“I’m not recruiting a kid for four years; I’m recruiting them for 40 years,” Bugbee said.
For more than four decades, Bugbee has achieved tremendous on-field success, but his focus has never been solely on winning.
“I’ve thought of myself as a relationship coach. That’s why I went into [coaching]. Everybody loves to win, but I love building relationships with my players. That takes care of the winning part,” Bugbee said. “Some of these guys have gone on to be coaches, so it’s great keeping up with them in that aspect, too.”
At least 75 players that Bugbee has coached have themselves gone on to become lacrosse coaches, and Kyle Devitte of The New England Lacrosse Journal called Springfield’s men’s lacrosse program “Coach University.”
Jim Warnock, who graduated from Springfield in 2001 as an All-American under Bugbee, emphasized how much he holds up to being a family-first coach.
“Years ago, I got hit by a car, and I needed brain surgery, and 20 years after I played for him, he’s showing up at the hospital for me,” Warnock said. “He’s been instrumental to all of [the alumni].”
Showing up is a mantra of Springfield lacrosse. After Bugbee’s daughter, Lindsay Bugbee Crosby, passed away in 2018, “Show Up” became a staple of Springfield athletics. As part of the Pavilion, Lindsay’s Lookout is a dedicated place for people to watch games.
The symbol honoring her is a flower with LBC in the middle, and a new tradition was introduced where two players are named “Show Up Players of the Week,” with each recipient passing the award to the next. The women’s lacrosse and football programs have started to emulate that as well.
“It’s a memory of her forever here,” Bugbee said. “A bunch of her teammates came today as well, and so many other people are here for Lindsay, too. The part that makes all of this even more special is I had no part in this. I love this, but the pavilion and lookout were all funded and organized by alums.”
Last season, the team had a rare, tough start to the season. The Pride played five ranked opponents in their first eight games and couldn’t notch a win. Senior goalie Kaden Quirk was the student-athlete speaking at the ceremony representing the current team, and he recalled a moment last year during the end of the losing streak.
“In the middle of the game, Bugbee came up to us and just told us he loved us,” Quirk said.
Something as small as validation helped the Pride surge to a 7-2 finish on the season, falling just short of Babson in the NEWMAC Championship.
Quirk’s speech was a full-circle moment for the program, as his father, Sean, who was a part of the 1994 national championship team, also played under Bugbee. The Quirk’s are one of nine father-son duos to have played for Bugbee.
Derek Pedrick, who graduated in the class of 2005, holds the utmost respect for his former coach.
“It’s hard to keep 40 to 50 guys on the same page for a year, let alone do it at one college consistently for 40 years,” Pedrick said. “He’s always positive, which is something that myself and every other person have tried to do.”
The ceremony concluded with all of Bugbee’s kids, in-laws and grandkids coming down from Lindsay’s Lookout to cut the ribbon. Bugbee’s grandson, Nolan, was most excited to cut it.
Bugbee, however, as joked by almost every speaker at the ceremony, was most excited to have a beer. Bugbee found one right after and spent the rest of his night with family — the word engraved on the pavilion.
“I didn’t want my name on it but wanted the family’s name,” Bugbee said. “That’s what means the most to me.”