ATHENS, W.Va. – Concord University head men's basketball coach
Todd May has announced he is departing the Mountain Lion men's basketball program to accept an assistant coaching position at Division I Akron.
May, the third-winningest coach in the history of CU men's basketball, racked up 152 wins over his 10-year stint on the sidelines. May trails only Steve Cox (336 wins) and Don Christie (171) on the all-time wins list at Concord.
"For 14 years, Concord men's basketball has been my life, everyday with a singular focus to make the program, and the people around it better," May said. "However, all good things must come to an end. (My wife) Megan and I were brought to Athens for a reason that we probably didn't understand 14 years ago, but now we know it was to serve this community, Concord University and the men's basketball program."
May's first job at Concord was the assistant coach under Kent McBride from 2012-16. During his time n the second chair of the bench, May helped guide CU to the 2016 Mountain East Conference Championship—the first conference championship for the men's basketball program in 19 years. It was also the first appearance for Concord in the NCAA Division II Tournament since 1997.
After McBride left Athens with the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, May was elevated to head coach of the Mountain Lion program.
"I want to say thank you to Dr. Kendra Boggess and former Athletic Director Kevin Garrett for giving me this opportunity and believing in me to lead Concord men's basketball," May said. "I want to thank Kent McBride for giving me the opportunity to live my dream. He and his family welcomed Megan and I with open arms and made us part of their family, which is still the case to this day."
After an 11-17 record in his first season, Concord took off. Despite a 16-12 regular season in 2017-18, CU made the MEC Semifinals, and May coached his first All-American in Tommy Bolte that season. The 2018-19 season saw the Maroon and Gray win 20 games and make it back to the MEC Semifinals once again.
From 2019 through the 2022-23 season, CU teetered around the .500 mark each year. But, the last three years May spent on the sidelines inside the Carter Center proved to be one of the best three-year runs for Mountain Lion men's basketball.
May guided Concord to the 2024 NCAA Division II Tournament—the first at-large berth in the national tournament for CU since 1954. The 2023-24 Mountain Lions piled up 22 wins which were the third-most wins for the program in a single season.
The 54 wins that May was on the sidelines for over the last three seasons was the best three-year run for CU since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Additionally, the three straight conference tournament semifinals that May led Concord to in finishing up his time in Athens was the first time making the final four of the conference tournament three straight years since 1994-98.
"I want to thank Steve Cox for his daily talks, our lunches these last few years, and our many days at Pipestem Golf Course," May said, "After my first season as an assistant he gave me a masters class about the history of the league and CU hoops…I learned a lot that day that allowed me to appreciate and understand the position I was in and what Concord men's basketball could do for so many people. You ended up being the mentor I didn't know I needed."
In 10 years, May coached two All-Americans in Bolte and
Kollin Tolbert, who was the MEC Player of the Year last spring, the first two MEC Defensive Players of the Year in league history, four all-region players and 11 all-conference players.
May returns to his native Ohio to join the Akron program under first-year head coach Dustin Ford who was the top assistant for a Zips' program that has enjoyed an incredible run the last five seasons. Akron has made the NCAA Division I Tournament—coined March Madness—three straight years and four of the last five seasons.
Concord will begin a national search for the next head coach of the Mountain Lion men's basketball program.Â
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