Toronto Rock vice president Les Bartley was named today as the National Lacrosse League's Executive of the Year in balloting among team governors, general managers and head coaches.

2004   Steve Govett
       Colorado
2003   Brad Banister
       Calgary
2002   Tom Mayenknecht
       Vancouver
2001   Russ Cline
       Philadelphia

Bartley, who stepped down as Rock coach in November 2003 after being diagnosed with colon cancer, continues to work for the team as vice president, alternate governor and advisor to team president Brad Watters.

Bartley is also a member of the NLL's labor committee and played a leading role in the December signing of a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Lacrosse Players Association.

His biggest claim to fame, though, is his remarkable twelve-year coaching career, tallying an overall record of 111-42 in six seasons with the Buffalo Bandits (1992-1997) and six more with the Rock (1998-2003), including the club's one season in Hamilton.

He won seven championships as a head coach, more than anyone else in league history -- 1992, 1993 and 1996 with Buffalo, plus 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 with Toronto.

Bartley is the namesake of the NLL's annual coaching award. This year's Les Bartley Award went to Arizona Sting coach Bob Hamley, who will lead his team into the Champion's Cup Final this Saturday -- against, appropriately enough, Toronto.

The NLL's annual award parade continues tomorrow with the selection of the Rookie of the Year and the All-Rookie Team. The All-Pro Teams follow on Wednesday, with the announcement of the Most Valuable Player to follow on Thursday.