(Photo: Ron Chenoy, Pretty Instant)

Chesapeake Bayhawk owner Brendan Kelly has resigned from the Major League Lacrosse board and returned control of the franchise to the league, he told IL on Monday.

"I resigned from the board, resigned from the rights to the franchise. I did not sell it back, and I’m OK with that," Kelly said on Monday. The news comes after the Dallas Rattlers and New Balance did similarly last fall.

Kelly purchased the Bayhawks in 2010 and led the team to four championships, including acting as the head coach for the first. The most recent championship came last October in a win over the Denver Outlaws.

"Winning a championship this year was a big part of [this decision]," Kelly said. "I felt like I accomplished everything I could accomplish."

Kelly says he harbors no ill will toward the MLL and that he's not exiting lacrosse. He's focused on building a sports complex and that details on that will be forthcoming, and other lacrosse and sports ventures.

"I want those guys to be successful," he said of the remaining league and team operators. "I think at the end of the day, what the MLL is doing is smart."



Still, he thinks change is needed, both in strategy and in execution. The Premier Lacrosse League announced its formation in October 2018 and successfully completed its first season last year, crowning Whipsnakes LC as the inaugural champion in September. PLL is expanding to seven teams in 2020, and announced the players protected by each team in advance of the Waterdogs LC's expansion draft on Monday.

"Pro lacrosse is in a very fragile spot outdoors. Indoor has it dialed in, they’re moving, they have a good strategic plan and they’re executing it. Having two outdoors leagues is not going to work," Kelly says. "There’s not clear sight of healing or coming together in the future. I think we’re chasing sponsors and fans from the business."

"It’s not about me going out the door trying to join PLL. If I did anything else in pro lacrosse, I’d be more inclined to work with the NLL, based on what they’ve proven over the last 36 months."

When he thinks back on the last decade, though, Kelly is proud.

"I feel like I left it better than when I got involved. I tried to make some things happens, it’s just not where we’re at. We had a great time, won four championships, a lot of great players came through, I don’t regret a thing."