Gary May II transitioned from high school football coaching to lead the East Coast Ducks, a semi-professional team competing in the New England Football League and based in Charlestown.
Under May’s direction, the 2014 season proved remarkably successful.
Gary May II
The East Coast Ducks captured their division title with uniforms modeled after the Oregon Ducks, earning May recognition as the league’s Coach of the Year.
May has worked with several former Chelsea players on the Ducks roster, including Eddie Perez, Zeke Santiago, Juan Archar, Troy Crossley, and Jordan Virella. The roster also featured Stefon Carter, whose father Greg Carter played basketball at Malden Catholic, as well as Malcolm Brown, a standout from Pope John.
May’s leadership has been instrumental in the Ducks organization’s development. Two seasons prior, serving as the team’s sole coach, he guided the squad to the NEFL Super Bowl.
“I was one coach who led 43 guys to the Super Bowl,” May stated with satisfaction. “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.”
Before joining the Ducks, May’s high school coaching experience included a role as defensive coordinator at Cathedral High School during their 2012 Super Bowl championship season. He had previously worked at Chelsea High and established the Chelsea Pride youth football organization in 2008.
At 35, May has roots in the Chelsea Pop Warner program as both player and coach, following his father Gary May, who coached him with the Junior Red Devils. May himself was a two-way starter on the 1995 Super Bowl champion Chelsea High football team, the only championship team in the school’s history. That squad, coached by Joe Gaff, defeated Old Colony in the title game.
May expressed his ambition regarding his coaching future. “I eventually want to be a head high school football coach,” he explained. “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.”
During his award acceptance remarks, May acknowledged his children, his father, and his former coach 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.”
According to May, the Ducks organization will relocate to East Boston in the coming season, with home games scheduled at East Boston Stadium.
May’s children currently participate in youth basketball in East Boston, continuing a family legacy of athletic involvement established years ago on Highland Street by Gary May and Wilma Parham.
Looking ahead, Gary May II aims to bring his passion for sports and coaching to lead a high school football program.