Long-Serving Boys Lacrosse Coach steps down

Coach Bill Bendell at one of the final games of his
Bulldog career last month

After wrapping up yet another successful season, long-time CHS Boys Varsity Lacrosse coach Bill Bendell has announced he is stepping down from the position- one he has held since 2004.  During that 16 year stretch, Bendell has led the program to great height including qualifying for 9 MIAA tournament appearances and 7 of them coming in the past 9 seasons. 

Bendell shared some of his memories and highlights of his career as he reflected on his more than decade-and-a-half career as a Bulldog:

- Qualifying for the tournament for the first time in program history and beating a good Bedford team in the first round in a one-goal game was my first great memory. 

- Our 2012 team won the most games in school history at that point and helped raise program expectations. I will forever be thankful to that crew for that. 

- Our 2013 season was my favorite- beating everyone in the Hockomock League on the way to a Hock Title and a Final Four finish in the state tournament. Our final record was 18-2, but really made that team special was how we handled ourselves. We were mentally and physically tough and we had leaders all over the field. We played the right way and never made excuses. We even won the sportsmanship award and set a new standard for CHS Lacrosse. 

Bendell, who played four years of lacrosse at Bentley College where he captained the 1999 team and graduated as the school's all-time assist leader, had this to say about his 16 years here at the helm of the Bulldog Lacrosse program:

"I really enjoyed the past 16 years. I feel lucky to have had great athletes and very supportive parents throughout my tenure. Coaching at the high school level requires a lot of time and effort, but it is also extremely rewarding. The moments I will always remember are the little things - times when guys volunteered to play another position to help the team or when someone made everyone laugh with a quick line."

Bendell will certainly be missed on the sidelines next spring. CHS Bulldogs everywhere thank him for his years of commitment to our program and wish him well in the next steps of his life.  Thank you Coach Bendell!