Arizona Sting coach Bob Hamley was named today as the recipient of the Les Bartley Award as the National Lacrosse League's Coach of the Year.

2004   Paul Day
       Rochester
2003   Darris Kilgour
       Buffalo
2002   Bob McMahon
       Albany
2001   Tony Resch
       Philadelphia

Hamley guided the Sting to a 9-7 record this season, two wins better than last year. Arizona's late-season success (6-3 in its last nine games) yielded the team's first-ever playoff berth and, following two postseason victories, a spot in the Champion's Cup Final against the Toronto Rock on Saturday, 14 May.

"Bob has done an outstanding job with the Sting this season and he deserves this recognition," Sting governor Doug Moss said. "Bob is a great coach who is well respected by his players and peers throughout the league. He has taken one of the NLL’s youngest teams and led them to the NLL championship game."

Although most of his charges are new to the title game experience, Hamley is not. "Hammer," as he was called in his playing days, was a member of two championship teams in Buffalo during the mid 1990s.

The Bartley Award, named for the former Buffalo and Toronto coach who is currently battling colon cancer, was voted on by governors, general managers and head coaches of the member NLL teams.

Tomorrow, NLL will name the General Manager of the Year. The major awards, including Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year, will be announced next week.