Greg “Boom” May has been named head women’s hockey coach

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Here's the U of MN press release:

University of Minnesota Thomas O. Moe Director of Athletics Mark Coyle announced today that Greg “Boom” May has been named head women’s hockey coach. The University and May have agreed to a four-year term, pending the completion of a background check and Board of Regents approval.

May has been the Associate Head Coach for the Minnesota women’s team since 2023. He also coached the men’s hockey team at Augsburg University for two seasons to a 41-15-2 record and two NCAA tournament berths from 2021-23 and was the director of operations for the Minnesota men’s team from 2019-21.

Prior to getting into collegiate hockey, May was the boy’s hockey head coach at The Blake School and Farmington High School.

“Boom is a relationship-builder and a strong recruiter who brings success as a head coach to our program,” said Coyle. “He knows Minnesota hockey, but he has also coached and had success at the international level. Our program is in good hands with Greg at the helm. I am excited for the future of the program, and I am excited for Greg, his wife, Lenia, and their two daughters Marina and Cole.”

May was an assistant coach on the USA Women’s U18 National Team that went 6-0 and won a gold medal at the U18 World Championships in January 2026. May coached the forwards and led the power play, as the team outscored its opponents 56-2.

“I feel so fortunate and honored to be selected as the head coach of Gopher women’s hockey,” said May. “I could not be more excited to lead this storied program, as I truly believe this is one of the greatest coaching jobs in the country. I would like to thank President Rebecca Cunningham, Director of Athletics Mark Coyle, Sport Administrator Travis Cameron and the rest of the hiring committee for trusting me and providing me this opportunity. This program is rich with history and pride that is recognized across this state. I cannot wait to get to work and build upon the legacy and standard of excellence set by Laura Halldorson, Brad Frost and all the Gopher greats who have worn the M.”

At Minnesota, May helped the Gophers advance to the 2025 NCAA Frozen Four and to NCAA tournament bids in 2024, 2025 and 2026. He worked with the forwards and oversaw the team’s power play, which consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation.

May led the men’s team at Augsburg from 2021-23. The team played in the NCAA tournament both years and advanced to the Frozen Four in 2022. He was named the MIAC Coach of the Year in 2022 and the team won the MIAC regular season title in 2022 and the MIAC tournament championship in 2023.

The Burnsville, Minn., native was the director of operations for the Minnesota men’s hockey program from 2019-21, and he helped the Gophers claim the 2021 Big Ten Tournament championship.

May joined the men’s program after spending three seasons as head boy’s hockey coach and associate director of athletics at Blake, where he led the Bears to back-to-back Independent Metro Athletic Conference championships in 2017 and 2018.

Prior to his time at Blake, he spent two seasons as the head boy’s hockey coach at Farmington High School, leading the Tigers to the program’s first MSHSL Class AA state tournament appearance.

May also spent eight years as a health and physical education teacher locally before joining Blake.

A 2003 graduate of Burnsville High School, May played college hockey at Augsburg and was a MIAC all-conference honoree. He graduated from Augsburg with a bachelor’s degree in health education and physical education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education leadership from Concordia-St. Paul.

May and his wife, Lenia, have two daughters, Marina and Cole.
 

Interesting to announce it *during* the National Title game, and within an hour of the most high-profile Gopher Women's Athletics win in the last 5 years.

Typical Coyle though.

The Gophers have been recruiting very strong lately, this was probably a bid to get a new voice in the room but keep the recruiting class intact.
 

What do the knowledgeable hockey folks think of this hire ?
 





I haven't a clue about this hire. He could be one of those diamonds in a rough. Time will tell.
 





Not entirely familiar with the hire but I'm always a bit weary of hiring an assistant of the coach you just got rid of. Sometimes it can work out, Dabo Swinney at Clemson is a good example.

This doesn't have the makings of a landmark hire. Hope it pans out.
 






I am disappointed in the hire. You hire from within when your head coach retires and your program is on top and you want to maintain things. You hire from outside when you need improvements. I think Coyle got caught without thinking enough about a new hire. I think he discovered that the elite coaches don't want to come to Minnesota because the Gophers are not going to play the NIL and big money Transfer Portal Game. I think that Coyle discovered that key Gopher players were going to jump ship in the Transfer Portal. May is probably very popular with the players and he may be able to keep the herd together. But, Minnesota needs to do a better job recruiting players; i.e., identify the best players no matter where they live and play the high-stakes recruiting money game. They need a recruiter with the charisma of a Hugh McCutcheon and the used car dealer pitch of a P.J. Fleck.
 

walleye said:
I am disappointed in the hire. You hire from within when your head coach retires and your program is on top and you want to maintain things. You hire from outside when you need improvements. I think Coyle got caught without thinking enough about a new hire. I think he discovered that the elite coaches don't want to come to Minnesota because the Gophers are not going to play the NIL and big money Transfer Portal Game. I think that Coyle discovered that key Gopher players were going to jump ship in the Transfer Portal. May is probably very popular with the players and he may be able to keep the herd together. But, Minnesota needs to do a better job recruiting players; i.e., identify the best players no matter where they live and play the high-stakes recruiting money game. They need a recruiter with the charisma of a Hugh McCutcheon and the used car dealer pitch of a P.J. Fleck.
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I am curious if he pulled the trigger and thought that Nadine would jump at the chance to come back to the Twin Cities. Really does not make much sense to me to part ways with a coach and then to bring one of his assistants back as his replacement. Is he going to be that much different that Frost? Is he going to do anything that is drastically different? And if so, why could he not have talked Frost into doing what he wants to do as an assistant?
 


The test of this hire is currently on. The transfer portal for women's hockey is open for the next two weeks, although players have longer if their coach leaves. Currently, no Gophers are listed in the portal but about four Minnesota D-1 teams have players listed. If May can keep the best Gopher players in the fold, that is a big first step. Then, we have to hope he can land some outstanding players from the portal.
 

What's with the "Boom" nickname. Any background? Strange to see it on an official announcement, unless its branding.
 

Greenbayguy said:
What's with the "Boom" nickname. Any background? Strange to see it on an official announcement, unless its branding.
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No idea but all I think about is that stupid last call song:

"Boom, boom, boom, let's go back to my room..."
 


Greenbayguy said:
What's with the "Boom" nickname. Any background? Strange to see it on an official announcement, unless its branding.
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believe its a nickname from youth where his siblings called him boomboom and shortened it to boom IIRC
 

Slim Tubby said:
No idea but all I think about is that stupid last call song:

"Boom, boom, boom, let's go back to my room..."
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Nah, that was the former AD's nickname (in his own mind, at least).

I'd also add that the first sentence of the press release is the only time you'll see Tom Moe and Mark Coyle's names in the same sentence, unless the sentence is Mark Coyle, he's no Tom Moe (or something along those lines).
 


lrgeek said:
I am curious if he pulled the trigger and thought that Nadine would jump at the chance to come back to the Twin Cities. Really does not make much sense to me to part ways with a coach and then to bring one of his assistants back as his replacement. Is he going to be that much different that Frost? Is he going to do anything that is drastically different? And if so, why could he not have talked Frost into doing what he wants to do as an assistant?
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Perhaps he tried and was put off. We'll never know, or at least not for a while what's going on behind the scenes.
 

walleye said:
The test of this hire is currently on. The transfer portal for women's hockey is open for the next two weeks, although players have longer if their coach leaves. Currently, no Gophers are listed in the portal but about four Minnesota D-1 teams have players listed. If May can keep the best Gopher players in the fold, that is a big first step. Then, we have to hope he can land some outstanding players from the portal.
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This clearly will be his first real test.
 


I thought Nadine would come back, but if that wasn't in the works or planned, seems weird to let Frost go.
 

- Played college hockey at Augsburg

- Coached Boys HS Hockey for a few years at Farmington then Blake

- 2 years with Gopher Men’s team making travel arrangements and planning meals

- 2 years Augsburg Men’s coach

- 2 years Assistant Gopher Women

Next natural step at 40 is obviously the Head Coach at one of the top programs in the country. 😂😭🤣
 

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