CALGARY – Troy Cordingley resigned as head coach of the Calgary Roughnecks on Tuesday, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.
The Oakville, Ont., native, who led the Roughnecks to the 2009 National Lacrosse League’s Champion’s Cup in just his second season with the team, said the decision to leave wasn’t easy.
“I am at a loss of words and this has been a very emotional day for me as I don’t want to let anyone down,” Cordingley said in a statement. “I have two families, one at home and one with the Roughnecks and that’s why this decision has been so hard to make.”
Cordingley has four children under the age of nine at home.
“I have to focus on my family and do what is right for them,” he said. “My family has bent over backwards for me the past few years, and now it’s time for me to give back and direct my focus on them.”
Cordingley, who was hired in 2007, coached Calgary to a franchise 12-4 regular-season record and top seed throughout the playoffs in 2009, en route to capturing the 2009 Les Bartley Award as the league’s top head coach.
“We were hoping that Troy would be with us for many more years down the road, but we understand that family comes first,” Roughnecks president and GM Brad Banister said in a statement. “It’s saddening because he was a big part of our team, and we’re such a tight knit group, but we understand why Troy made the decision he did, and we will recover.”
Cordingley served as assistant coach of the Buffalo Bandits before being hired in Calgary.
He played pro lacrosse for nine years before stepping behind the bench, playing most of his career in Buffalo. He won two championships with the Bandits in 1993 and ’96.
Cordingley recorded 143 goals and 345 assists in 96 career-NLL games.
