Gary May II left the high school football coaching ranks to become the head coach of the New England Football League’s East Coast Ducks, a semi-professional football team that was based in Charlestown.
The 2014 season was a success from start to finish under May’s leadership.
Gary May II
The East Coast Ducks, whose uniforms are similar to the Oregon Ducks, won their division and May was named the league’s Coach of the Year.
May has coached former Chelsea players on the Ducks’ roster, notably Eddie Perez, Zeke Santiago, Juan Archar, Troy Crossley, and Jordan Virella. Stefon Carter, son of former Malden Catholic basketball player Greg Carter, and former Pope John standout Malcolm Brown were also on the Ducks’ roster.
May has been a force at the helm of the Ducks’ organization. As the sole coach of the Ducks two seasons ago, he led the team in to the NEFL Super Bowl.
“I was one coach who led 43 guys to the Super Bowl,” May said proudly. “It wasn’t easy. We had young guys on our team and we set a standard for them. I’m a firm believer that as a player, you have to buy in to the system. I had some great guys on that team.”
May’s last stop on the high school football sidelines was at Cathedral High School, serving as defensive coordinator for the 2012 Super Bowl champions. He previously served on the staff at Chelsea High and founded the Chelsea Pride youth football organization in 2008.
May, 35, also played and coached in the Chelsea Pop Warner organization, following in the footsteps of his father, Gary May, who was his coach for the Junior Red Devils. May was a two-way starter for the 1995 Super Bowl champion Chelsea High football team, the only team in school history to win it all. That team, led by coach Joe Gaff, defeated Old Colony in the championship game.
May said his goal is to become a head coach in high school football.
“I eventually want to be a head high school football coach,” said May. “That’s always been my goal. I attend every football clinic you can think of. Anything I can do to improve my football coaching skills, I’ll do.”
In his coaching award acceptance speech, May thanked his children, his father, and his coach at Chelsea High, Joe Gaff.
“I would like to thank my children, Jackson May and Makayla Fay May, for supporting me and letting Daddy live his dream and continue his pursuit to the ultimate coaching job. To my Dad, Gary May, for introducing me and making football a gift for me to love and help inspire others.
“And to Joe Gaff, for showing me that football wasn’t just X’s and O’s, but a place where you motivate talented athletes and bond them as a core to win and win big.”
May said he will relocate the Ducks organization to East Boston next season and the team will play its home games at East Boston Stadium.
May’s children are playing youth basketball in East Boston, continuing the family’s tradition of sports participation that was started many years ago on Highland Street by Gary May and Wilma Parham.
Gary May II now hopes to bring his love of sports and coaching to the helm of a high school football program.