(Release Courtesy of Springfield Athletics) 

Springfield, Mass. – Former Springfield College men's lacrosse head coach Keith Bugbee has earned the Creator's Award from the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA).

The Creators Award is bestowed upon an IMLCA member for their achievements in the core areas of advocacy, leadership, education, honor, spirit, and service to the game of lacrosse.  

Bugbee was the head men's lacrosse coach at Springfield College for 42 seasons, and under his leadership, the program became established as one of the top programs in the country.  During his tenure, Springfield College produced an overall record of 432-237, good for a winning percentage of .646.

Bugbee's teams competed in 35 postseason tournaments, including 24 NCAA Tournaments, and won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1994, while 53 of his student-athletes received All-America recognition.  At one point in his career, Bugbee led Springfield to 12-straight conference titles and a 57-conference-game winning streak.  His 432 wins rank fifth all-time in NCAA men's lacrosse history.

Bugbee was named USILA Division II Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1995, earned Pilgrim League Coach of the Year Honors in 2003 and 2013, and finished his career as the NEWMAC Coach of the Year in 2025. He was inducted into the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2002 and, in 2019, was chosen as the NEILA Walter Alessi Man of the Year and the USILA Frenchy Julien Service Award. During the 2021-22 academic year, he served as the Distinguished Professor of Humanics at Springfield College and was selected for the IMLCA's Lifetime Service Award in 2022.

In 2019, Bugbee became just the fifth coach in the history of collegiate men's lacrosse to capture 400 victories, and the only to ever win his first 400 games at just one institution. In 2011, Bugbee pushed his win total to 301 as he passed legendary coach Dick Garber for the most wins in New England Lacrosse history.  

Bugbee is a 1979 graduate of Keene State (N.H.) College where he lettered in lacrosse and soccer while earning his bachelor's degree in physical education. He received his master's degree in physical education from Springfield College.

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.