LEXINGTON, Va. -- After 21 years and 117 wins, Doug Bartlett decided that last Saturday's season-finale against Manhattan was his last as head lacrosse coach at the Institute. Bartlett retires as one of the longest tenured coaches in the school's 167-year history, and leaves a legacy firmly imprinted as the architect to the success of the VMI lacrosse program.

"No words can express the gratitude I have for VMI while serving as head lacrosse coach for the past 21 seasons," said head coach Doug Bartlett. "This has been the best experience of my life to date, and has offered me a lifetime of memories and friendships along the way."

Bartlett is stepping down from the coaching reins for a few reasons, but none more important than the chance to spend valuable time with his family, including his three daughters.

"I have watched parents over the years support their children to the furthest corners of the universe," commented Bartlett, whose girls are on their school's lacrosse teams. "I just didn't want to miss any more time in my life with my girls that I can never get back."

Bartlett, who currently ranks 13th amongst active Division I lacrosse coaches with 127 career wins, has had a host of major accomplishments since taking over the program in 1986. In 1992, Bartlett's Keydets went 9-5 and were ranked in the Top 25 national lacrosse poll, becoming only the fourth team in VMI history to achieve that feat. A few years later, the 1995 VMI team also went 9-5 and once again received votes in the national poll.

"Doug Bartlett took command of VMI Lacrosse twenty-one years ago and built it into a competitive Division I program," said VMI Athletic Director Donny White. "Doug deserves great credit for infusing his spirit into VMI Lacrosse and for developing a popular sport at VMI. We will miss his engaging personality and his leadership in the athletic department."

Bartlett was selected to coach for the South team in the heralded North/South Lacrosse Classic twice during his tenure, and currently serves as chairman of the Division I North/South Lacrosse game. Bartlett has been a featured speaker at the Southeastern Region Lacrosse Coaches Clinic, and has also has been a keynote speaker at the United States Lacrosse Association national convention. Furthermore, Bartlett has been actively involved in summer lacrosse camps throughout his tenure at VMI, and annually hosts several of the nation's top players and coaches at his camps.

But certainly his most monumental achievement came in 2003, when Bartlett engineered the program's move from independent status to a conference affiliation. Prior to the start of the season, the Keydets joined the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), and his team immediately began reaping the benefits of being a member of a conference. In their first-ever conference game, the Keydets defeated Canisius 13-9 in front of a home crowd at Patchin Field.

Since joining the MAAC, the team and its players have also enjoyed the added benefits of competing in the conference. In nearly four full seasons, VMI has had 22 All-Conference Academic selections and three All-Conference recipients, as well as receiving eight weekly conference awards in the past two years.

Another major development aided by Bartlett was the creation of the Lee-Jackson Classic in 1988. The event paired the Keydets and neighboring Washington & Lee Generals in an annual competition, and has been a big draw in the community year after year. The game is still the most talked about match-up of the season for both sides, and the two teams recently competed in the 19th annual edition of the Lee-Jackson Classic. In another important achievement in the Rockbridge County area, Bartlett was instrumental in helping develop young area talent through "Shawnee Lacrosse." He gave much of his time and talent to promote local interest in lacrosse to boys and girls from pre-school through elementary age.

In 1986, Bartlett took over a VMI team that returned to varsity status in 1983 and immediately brought respectability to the program. Six of his first seven seasons at the helm of VMI resulted in non-losing seasons, while five of those were winning seasons.

Bartlett is a 1970 graduate of SUNY-Geneseo, where he started on the lacrosse team for four years. He previously coached at Radford University, first as an assistant and then as head coach, and led the Highlanders to a 10-3 record in his first full season at the helm.

Recently, at the 2006 year-end lacrosse banquet in Lexington, Bartlett bid farewell to his players and their parents, and passed along one final message; "I won't be far." Although he didn't know it at the time, his statement couldn't have been more correct.

On Tuesday morning, Bartlett accepted a position with the Keydet Club to serve as Vice President, heavily involved with fundraising for VMI athletics. The position allows him to stay actively involved with VMI and the athletic program, however, also provides sufficient time to be with his family.

"I can't think of any better scenario for me than to continue to serve at VMI and help the athletic program; it's by far the best case scenario I could hope for. This worked out for me, my family and for VMI lacrosse."

Bartlett will bring valuable experience to the Keydet Club, after actively fundraising for the VMI lacrosse program since his arrival on post.

"The Keydet Club has enjoyed great success over the years in hiring VMI coaches," said Keydet Club Executive Vice President Greg Cavallaro '84. "Former wrestling coach Ike Sherlock made the transition in the 80's and Donnie Ross '74 has had a profound impact with the Keydet Club since joining the staff in the late 90's. We are excited to add Doug to our team. Twenty-one years of coaching and the relationships he has developed with cadet-athletes, parents, and alumni as well as his love for VMI make him a great fit."

And although he is retiring from coaching, he might not be able to get too far away. His three daughters Jessie (17), Kelsey (14) and Maiah (11) are all actively involved in the game, and might need some advice along the way. They will certainly be asking the right person.