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It's back in the saddle for Chagrin's May
(by Steve Novak - July 22, 2009)
It's back in the saddle for Chagrin's May
By STEVE NOVAK
In considering how to fill a job opening, most employers like to consider an applicant's previous experience at the job. The Chagrin Falls school board recently did this. To be precise, the board chose an applicant with 15 years of experience in the same exact job.
Lenny May just started his second tour as the Chagrin Falls athletic director a few weeks ago. It;s not as if he's new to the job or to his co-workers. In addition to being the athletic director up until a couple of years ago, May has been employed in the Chagrin Falls school district for 40 years.
May began his career in 1969 as an English teacher. He soon was appointed as an assistant varsity football coach and as the varsity baseball coach.
He coached football for more than 20 years, and he directed the baseball team for 18 years before taking on the post of the athletic director.
But when May stepped down as athletic director after 15 seasons, he immediately gained another post at the school. He is, and will continue to serve as the district's director of community development, handling public relations for the district.
Most recently, the post of athletic director was held by William Schumacher, who indicated he wanted to devote more time to his other job as assistant principal of the high school.
"The jobs of assistant principal and athletic director were just pushing Bill in too many directions," May said. "I said that I'd be willing to help out as much as I can in making the transition."
In using the word "transition," May is talking about the fact that at the present, he has only agreed to take on the athletic director's post on an interim basis for the coming school year.
"After that, we'll sit down and see what direction we want to go in," May said.
But the interim status doesn't chance the opinion of Chagrin Falls coaches who have worked with May in the past, including boys' basketball coach Dave Bargar and track and cross country coach Dave Kirk.
Bargar's history with May dates back to days when he was a student at Chagrin Falls High School and May was a teacher and the chairman of the English department.
Also, Kirk said that he has always received nothing but support from May during his term as athletic director.
"The athletic directors at Chagrin Falls let us run our programs. We truly had the support of the administration," Kirk said. "If there is something that we didn't get from them, I don't know what it is. And, if there was something that I wanted, I would get it, as long as it didn't cost that much."
Kirk also said he expects more of the same treatment now.
"I'm sorry to lose Bill, but I'm happy to have Lenny back, too. They're both just very fine men," he said. "I don't know of any coach out there who has had more support than I have."
Like any veteran who has worked in a high school athletic office, May knows there is no such thing as a full summer vacation for this job description. He already has held meetings with the coaches of the fall sports to discuss their upcoming seasons.
May said he took a week off to travel out of town, but he plans to spend the rest of the summer working on plans for both the fall and the winter sports. He's no stranger to knowing that he's not involved in a 9 to 5 type of job.
"Ask any coach who's been doing this for a number of years," he said. "You do it because you love working with the kids. You don't do it for the money. You do it because of the sport, and because of working with the kids. When you don't, then it's time to get out."
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