Tuesday, April 23, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
After a two-year hiatus, the most prolific wrestling coach in Nevada history is ready to hit the mats again.
Jimmy May, the man who created a wrestling dynasty at Eldorado, has accepted an offer to take over Green Valley's program.
Under May, the Sundevils won a record 11 Class AAA state titles and eight straight from 1986-93. They also took 14 Southern Zone championships, compiled a dual meet record of 311-20-2 and were ranked in USA Today's season-ending national top 20 four times, including a No. 7 ranking in 1987.
He resigned from wrestling two years ago to pay full attention to his duties as the school's head football coach and to allow his son, Danny, a chance to wrestle without the added pressure of having a father as a coach.
But Danny, who went on to win two individual state titles, will graduate this year and May believes it's a perfect time for something new.
"It's a good move for me at this time of my life," said May, who left Eldorado from 1983-85 to coach at UNLV until that program was canceled. "I wanted something fresh. When you drive the same road for 18 years it starts to get stagnant. I'm ready for a change."
May's departure comes one month after the resignation of his wrestling replacement, Lon Gwyn, opening Eldorado's two highest profile coaching positions.
"It was a tremendously tough decision," said May, who resides near the Green Valley zone. "Eldorado wrestling has been a part of my life and my entire family's life. It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. I'd been contemplating getting back into wrestling as soon as last football season was over."
Green Valley athletic administrator Mark Coleman was excited to find May back in circulation.
"He certainly has a reputation for being successful," Coleman said. "He's a winner, a teacher, a motivator, all the things we look for in a head coach. Now we're hoping that Jimmy will be able to take us to the next step, not only being competitive state level but on a national level."
Green Valley's vacancy was created when coach Carl Brum decided not to return. Brum temporarily took over the Gators' program last year when Randy Steen stepped down.
"Carl Brum was enough of a team player to help us out for a year," Coleman said. "When the year was over Carl was pretty firm that his stay would only be for that year.
"We had some (candidates) we were prepared to pursue, but clearly the best opportunity was to pick up Jimmy May."
According to Eldorado athletic administrator Warren Hagman, it was only a matter of time before May made the move to Green Valley.
"He was ready to make a move and Green Valley has gone after him three times in the past few years," Hagman said.
May takes over a team that placed 11th in the state meet after qualifying three wrestlers, but none will return.
"It's in good shape," May said of the Gators program. "There's a lot of good young wresters. It'll just be a matter of coming in and putting in a lot of time."
May claims it's a chance to test his coaching ability, to see if he can build another dynasty.
"That's all at Eldorado," he said. "I'm 0-0 at Green Valley. It's a new start. It's an opportunity to prove to myself I can build a new program."
In addition to his wrestling duties, a part of May's agreement with Green Valley is to assist another program. It is uncertain if May, who coached Eldorado's football team to a 5-4 record last year, will join Green Valley's grid staff.
The Eldorado administration is taking early steps in finding replacements for May and Gwyn. An in-house selection will be conducted first. If no candidates are produced, the school then will seek outside applicants.
"Certainly, Eldorado High School is losing a quality individual," Hagman said. "There's a man that truly bleeds Maroon and Gold. It's going to be a loss, no matter where he goes. But I want for Jimmy what's best for him."
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