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| Tiger boys' hockey coach Greg May |
Burnsville High School graduate Greg May, who had a distinguished high school and collegiate playing career and has been an assistant coach at his alma mater since 2010, accepted the position earlier this week.
"We believe Greg is going to bring great enthusiasm, passion and hockey knowledge to our program," FHS activities director Bill Tschida said. "We are excited to get him on board."
May, the Burnsville High School Athlete of the Year in 2003, was a three-time all-Lake Conference hockey selection, team captain and Most Valuable Player during his high school career. At Augsburg College he was an all-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference performer.
His coaching career at Burnsville has also been marked with success. The Blaze won the South Suburban Conference title in 2011 and finished second in both 2013 and 2014. Burnsville was also the Section 2AA runner-up in 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2012 May received the section Assistant Coach of the Year award.
Prior to his Burnsville coaching experience, the new Tiger head man also served as junior varsity coach at Mounds View and coached in the Apple Valley and Burnsville youth programs.
May, an elementary and middle school physical education teacher in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District, feels he brings many positive attributes to his new coaching job.
"I have experience both as a player and a coach in the South Suburban Conference," he said. "I am very familiar with all of the teams and their coaches. (Farmington joins the South Suburban Conference next fall)
"I am a very positive and passionate coach who has high expectations and likes to lead a player-centered environment. I demand discipline, professionalism, humility, relentless effort, leadership and a team-first attitude...I plan on building strong relationships with players, parents, faculty, youth hockey and the community."
May said he prefers an up-tempo style of hockey, one that gives the opposition little time and space and is offensively creative.
"One of the first things we will have to do, however, is to figure out our team identity," he said. "I believe in playing at a high level on both sides of the puck and both ends of the rink. We will be a team that takes pride in doing the the little things right and pays specific attention to details."
May's wife Lenia and 15-month old daughter Marina come with him to his new assignment and he said they are excited about the new opportunity.
"They will be two of the biggest Tiger fans," he said.
