Carmel Catholic names May new coach

Carmel Catholic has its new baseball coach.

Social studies faculty member and Carmel alumnus Joe May will replace Chuck Gandolfi, whose contract was not renewed.

For the past six years, May has served as an assistant coach under Gandolfi, who's an Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association hall-of-famer. May is also an assistant varsity football coach for defense. He has held the position for the past seven years.

"Coach May will do a great job as Carmel Catholic's varsity baseball coach," athletic director Andy Bitto said in a statement. "He is responsible for overseeing all three levels of Carmel baseball, working to put the best teams in place and helping the athletes perform at their highest level. He has the support of six coaches beneath him. It's a big job."

"Taking the reins of one of the most successful baseball programs in the state will be, well, quite a challenge," May said. "Thankfully, we will have a well-seasoned nucleus with a host of returning seniors. It will be their leadership that determines continued success this year. I will need to foster that dynamic and be clear with our expectations."

May is a graduate of the University of South Alabama. He played college baseball under head coach Eddie Stanky, a former major league player and manager. Before playing for South Alabama, May played at the College of Lake County and was inducted into the CLC baseball hall of fame in 1994.

He worked as an assistant coach at the Grayslake junior college under NJCAA hall of famer Gene Hanson. May graduated from Carmel in 1978 and was inducted into the high school's athletic hall of fame for baseball and football in 1994.

In the past 10 seasons, Carmel's varsity baseball team has averaged 29 wins per year. Over the past 21 years, the Corsairs are 554-212 and have won 6 East Suburban Catholic Conference championships (more than any other team in the league), 11 regional championships, 5 sectional titles and 1 supersectional.

They made state finals appearances in 1990, 1994, 1999 and 2004. The 2004 team took third place.

"Coach May is a proven leader and competitor," Bitto said. "He has a very positive and nice rapport with the athletes and the coaching staff. His approach with the athletes is always instructive and supportive and this helps the athletes reach their full potential."