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Pump Jacks Name Ernie May Head Coach

April 22, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


One week after finding a new home, the East Texas Pump Jacks have a new head coach, too.

The Pump Jacks announced Wednesday that Ernie May will be the team's head coach for the 2015 season, the organization's first in Tyler.

"Coach May is an award-winning coach with several decades of experience in collegiate baseball," said Pump Jacks general manager Mike Lieberman. "Coach May is the kind of skipper we dream about, and we couldn't be happier to call him the Pump Jacks' new head coach."

May is equally enthusiastic to be coming to East Texas this summer. "I'm excited about this opportunity with the Pump Jacks," said May. "I look forward to working with Mike, the Tyler community, and the players who will be reporting in just a few weeks."

May comes to East Texas from Northland College, where he is in his second season as the program's head coach. Last year, May guided the LumberJacks to a 22-17 record overall and tied the school record for wins in a campaign. Northland ended the season second in the Division-III Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, the school's best finish since joining the UMAC, earning May the conference's Coach of the Year award.

Northland is currently 12-20 on the season but 8-7 in the UMAC, good for fourth place in the conference. With two weeks left in the season, the LumberJacks are in line to qualify for the postseason tournament once again.

May's extensive coaching background includes extended stints with Division III powerhouse Trinity College and Division I programs like Wofford College and the University of Massachusetts, not to mention time with Team USA baseball and several summer teams. It was this resume that attracted the attention of the Pump Jacks.

"It's not often a summer collegiate team gets to hire a head coach with Coach May's experience," said Lieberman. "He'll be the only TCL head coach this summer who is also a collegiate head coach, and he has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the team."

Last summer, May was invited by USA Baseball to the Team USA trials in North Carolina, where he helped select the 2014 Women's National Team. He hopes to spend time with USA Baseball once again next month before arriving in East Texas.

The New England native has served as head coach for two other summer collegiate teams. In 1999, he led the Keene Swamp Bats to the New England Collegiate Baseball League regular season title. He also managed the Martha's Vineyard Sharks in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League in 2012.

Prior to Northland, May was an assistant coach at Trinity for three years. The 2012 Bantams squad captured a conference title and reached the NCAA Division III East Regionals.

May spent 12 seasons as an assistant for UMass-Amherst, first in 1995 and then from 2000 to 2010. As the Minutemen pitching coach in 1995, May helped guide the team to an NCAA tournament berth and a 38-14 record, at the time the most victories in the program's more than 100-year history.

Between stints with UMass, May spent four years as the head coach at Wofford, from 1996 to 1999. He undertook the difficult task of transitioning the program to Division I after a successful run in Division II. May had previously been the Terriers' pitching coach in 1994.

May kicked off his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Springfield (Mass.) College in 1992 and 1993. He earned a master's in sports management from Springfield after graduating from Keene State College.

Early in his career, May also worked with the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves organizations. He helped run the Mets' Class-A affiliate in Pittsfield, Mass., in 1990, where he served under future big league general manager Steve Phillips. He was a member of the scouting and minor league operations department for the Braves in 1992.

May will arrive in East Texas on Memorial Day weekend, when the roster of players will begin arriving as well. The team will practice for several days before opening the season with a six-game road trip beginning May 28.

May will lead the Pump Jacks for their inaugural home game in Tyler on Thursday, June 4, when they welcome the Acadiana Cane Cutters to Irwin UT Tyler Ballpark. Click here for the complete schedule.

Season tickets for the Pump Jacks' first season in Tyler are on sale now! Season tickets are available in the box seats (with in-seat wait service!), reserved seats, or general admission. Click here for more information or contact the Pump Jacks at (903) 218-GO ET (4638). Tickets may be purchased online or at the Pump Jacks' new office located at 1805 Overbrook Drive, just off Paluxy Drive near Loop 323. The Jacks may also be reached by phone or via e-mail at info@pumpjacksbaseball.com .

To follow all the news as the Jacks prepare for their inaugural season in Tyler, visit the Pump Jacks official web site at www.pumpjacksbaseball.com . Join the conversation with other members of Pump Jacks Nation by visiting the Pump Jacks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.



Texas Collegiate League Stories from April 22, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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