O-State coach, Unatego AD takes job in Fla.

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February 7, 2012

Anonymous STAFF REPORT The Daily Star Tue Feb 07, 2012, 08:00 AM EST

The recent departure of Bill May left vacancies at Oneonta State and the Unatego School District.

May, 47, was announced as Southeastern University's women's tennis coach Friday. He'll also be the school's men's tennis coach the following season when that program begins its first season.

May spent seven seasons as the men's and women's tennis coach at Oneonta State. He served as athletic director at Unatego the last two seasons.

"O-State has a lot of outstanding people and that's what made it tough to leave," May said. "I just loved the young men and young women on our squads this year. They're just tremendous. Leaving the people is the hardest part."

Red Dragons athletic director Tracey Ranieri said of May: "His greatest strength is that he's so caring of the individual _ their needs in personal growth, academics, sports and in life. Bill has a very deep faith and he brought that caring and compassion to his coaching."

May already has a 1-0 record for Southeastern, an NAIA Division II program in Lakeland, Fla. He coached the Fire to a 5-4 win over Ave Maria University in his opener.

The school awards two scholarships per year for tennis. That and the fact it's in Florida, where tennis is played year round made it attractive, May said.

"For a tennis coach, it's an ideal fit," May said.

May had a combined record of 132-70 at O-State.

Ranieri said May's replacement could be announced as soon as next week. The O-State men's tennis team opens its spring season against Elmira College on March 14. The women's team starts March 17 in Florida.

"Bill has left us in a good place and going forward we're going to have similar success," Ranieri said.

Associate Unatego AD Matt Hafele said Monday that pending board approval he'll be named the Spartans interim AD today.

"I learned a lot from (May)," said Hafele, adding that he applied to become Unatego's permanent AD.

In addition to his AD work at Unatego, May also went 1-0 as the Spartans' boys basketball coach. He filled in for an ill Jim Knight last season and guided the Spartans to a 55-46 overtime victory against Hancock in a Midstate Athletic Conference semifinal.

"Bill's a great guy," Knight said. "I got along great with Bill. He has a great demeanor and he really cared about the kids."