After securing four conference titles in his seven years as head coach of the Cerritos Falcons, Russ May received the highest honor.

On Monday, Feb 22., May was awarded the “Coach of the Year” for the South Coast Conference South Division.

“Great players make great coaches and I have wonderful players and people around me,” May said.

He took over the position in 2009 after a successful 10-year run as the head coach of the Los Alamitos’ boy’s basketball team.

Nine of his 10 seasons at Los Alamitos, May clinched league championships, including two CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) titles in 2006 and 2007.

This is not the first coach of the year award that May has been awarded. He was named Orange County coach of the year in 2007.

“Standing still means you’re not progressing so we just try to keep the program moving and evolving for the better,” May said in regards to his continuous success as a Falcon.

Freshman guard Luis Medearis admires his head coach and realizes that his success goes much beyond the understanding of the x’s and o’s of basketball.

“He knows basketball. He made [an] offense that goes well with our team,” Medearis said.

He added, “He knows how to run the game and play the game. He lets his players play to their strengths. He’s not a selfish man and that translates to everything in life.”

May has been a winner at all levels of his basketball career.

As a player at Cerritos from 1989-1991 he was a SCC honorable mention as a sophomore and won a state title during the 1989 season.

Before becoming head coach May was an assistant coach from 1994-1999.

The team won five conference titles and captured a state title in 1999.

This season May coached his team to a 20-9 regular season while going 8-0 in conference play.

Following a first round victory over Ventura, his team was eliminated by East LA.

May is a product of the Jack Bogdanovich coaching tree. Now May has become quite the leader himself.

Women’s basketball head coach Trisha Raniewicz said, “I am really happy for Russ and this the coaching of the year honor is well deserved. I definitely feel Russ has helped me this year, talking strategy, X’s and O’s or even how long it might take our team to get to an away game. I’ve always felt encouraged by Russ telling me “just keep doing what you’re doing” or “great job.”

With Raniewicz and May trading wisdom throughout the course of the season, it is no doubt that Raniewicz was beyond happy that he was rewarded for his tremendous coaching.

“I think the players are always battling and have a fighter mentality. Russ does a great job keeping everyone on the same page with excellent communication skills. He is honest with his players and helps them as they move on to their four-year school. I think that translates immensely to success on the floor,” she said.

Both of the coaches have had outstanding seasons as both led its respective teams to the playoffs and have 10 all-conference selections combined.