Wilson, 34, coached the Big Green to an overall 39-41 record.
Wilson said that he did have plans for the future, but declined to specify what those plans might be.
"At this point, I have a couple of things on my mind," Wilson said. "Obviously this is a busy time of year with recruiting, and that is at the forefront of my mind, along with a couple of [coaching] opportunities."
Wilson said he believes the Dartmouth team will do well in the coming seasons, and said that he enjoyed his time as the head coach.
"They are all great young men, and I wish them nothing but the best," Wilson said. "I know that they will all be successful."
Wilson announced his resignation to the men's lacrosse team at a team meeting on Tuesday. According to Wilson and team members, Athletic Director Josie Harper was also present at the meeting.
Harper was not available to comment for this article.
Kip Dooley '12, an attackman who was tied for fourth on the team in goals this past season, acknowledged that the past season was "disappointing," the members said they were surprised at Wilson's decision.
"I think everyone was generally surprised," Kip Dooley '12 said. "Obviously the season was disappointing, but his resignation was right after the season ended. It was sudden, and we still thought that coach Wilson was our coach."
Dooley said that although Wilson did not give any reasons for his decision, he was "apologetic" in his announcement.
"We're not sure why he resigned, but he was very apologetic," he said. "It makes you think if it was his decision or not, but obviously we don't know anything, so we can't make any judgments."
The athletic department will began a national search for Wilson's replacement "immediately," according to an athletic department press release.
Megan Sobel, senior associate director of athletics for intercollegiate sports, is in charge of the search, and said that the athletic department does not yet have a specific coach in mind for the position.
"We are in the process of getting the job advertised," she said. "We just began to search, so at this time there are no particular coaches that we are looking for. In the future, there will obviously be a few, but right now, some coaches that we might be interested in are still in season, so we have to be cognizant of that,"
Sobel said that the department will form a committee to lead the search process, and that current team members and alumni would be involved in the hiring.
"There will be a search committee, and I have yet to form it," she said. "Typically, we have an internal search committee that will meet with the candidates. Obviously the student-athletes will be involved as well. We like to get their input as the process starts and know the qualities they are looking for in a coach. There will also be an alumni advisory board that will give us feedback."
Sobel said that, while the search will be a national one, the team's current assistant coaches will be considered equally if they apply. During the search process, she said, current assistant head coach Andrew Towers will handle administrative duties.
"The assistants that are here now are welcome to apply to the head coach vacancy, but it is a national search," she said. "As the top-ranking assistant, Andy Towers will be handling the day-to-day stuff until we have a coach in place."
Sobel added that the department will have a new coach hired by the time practices resume in the fall. In the meantime, she said, the department will focus on maintaining incoming recruits.
"We have already been in touch with the recruits coming in," Sobel said. "We are focused entirely on having them maintain their decision to attend Dartmouth."
Towers has been an assistant coach for the Big Green for five seasons. Before coming to Dartmouth, Towers was the head coach at the University of Hartford.
Sobel said that Wilson did not give her or the department any reasons for his resignation.
Dooley said that many team members would like their new coach to be someone who is loud and aggressive.
"Every coach has a different style, and coach Wilson was not the loud type, and he wasn't direct," Dooley said. "For some kids, it worked, for others it didn't, and a lot of guys want a coach who will get in their face and is commanding."
Despite the resignation, Dooley maintained that Wilson was an approachable coach who the team respected.
"One memory I'll keep of coach Wilson is of when I was really sick in the fall," he said. "He came to see me in Dick's House at 8:00 or 9:00 at night when he should have been at home with his family. I think that was really indicative of his personality."
Before coming to Dartmouth, Wilson coached the Cornell men's lacrosse team for a year beginning in July 2002. Wilson left Ithaca to become the head coach at Dartmouth after helping coach the Big Red to the team's first Ivy League title in 16 years.
