Head Coach Trent May

Trent May begins his seventh season in 2023 as Head Coach of Women’s Basketball at his alma matter and brings a wealth of experience and success back to Bethany.

Last March was special for the Crimson Storm as May steered the ship to the program's first ever Great American Conference Tournament title as his girls defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State 58-56 in the championship game. The program's first conference championship gave SNU the automatic bid to their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history, as they traveled to Canyon, Texas the following weekend. After a hard fought battle with Texas A&M-Commerce in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the Storm were ousted 70-64 by the Lions. SNU finished the 2020-21 campaign with a 12-8 record in the COVID-shortened Spring season.

In 2019-20, May anchored the Crimson Storm to a 17-10 record, including a 14-8 record in the Great American Conference.  In his first two seasons at the helm, SNU has consecutive seasons with 17+ wins and a combined 29 conference victories. On January 19th, 2020, May earned his 350th career victory as a head coach when the Storm defeated East Central 75-64 inside the Sawyer Center.

In his first season in 2018-19, May led the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm to a 17-13 record including a school-best 15 wins in the Great American Conference. He also sailed the SNU ship to the program's first GAC postseason win in the GAC Tournament in March of 2019.

The six-time Conference Coach of the Year has compiled a 339-166 career record as he has averaged over 20 wins per season in 18 seasons.

May comes to SNU after previous stops at Grand Canyon (Arizona) and Bethany (Kansas) where he holds records at both schools for the best single-season record.

At GCU he led the ‘Lopes to a 29-3 record in the 2010-11 season and advanced to the Division II Sweet 16. In the 2002-03 season he led Bethany to 30-3 record.

In 2013-14, Grand Canyon’s inaugural season reclassifying to Division I, May led the Lopes to an impressive 21-9 mark with a 10-6 record and third-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference. The team earned a berth into the Women’s Basketball Invitational, giving May’s teams four straight postseason appearances and five in six seasons. It was also the program’s fourth straight 20-plus win season.

His clubs followed up the Sweet 16 berth from 2011, with two more Division II West Region appearances. Both clubs went to the region semifinals and combined for a mark of 47-13.

In 2012, he was named PacWest Coach of the Year for the fourth time as the 'Lopes won their fifth conference title in six seasons. He won his 100th game at the helm of the program on Feb. 4 at Hawai'i Hilo.

Under his guidance, the 'Lopes were regularly ranked in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll starting in the 2010-11 season. During that season, the team moved as high as No. 9.

May broke the school record for career victories in 2009-10, earning his 50th career win with a 98-48 win over Chaminade in Honolulu.

He guided the ‘Lopes to PacWest championships in each of his first two seasons. Along with winning the 2009 title, GCU earned an automatic bid to the Division II West Regional, its first postseason trip since 2004.

In 2007-08, his first year as head coach, the ‘Lopes went 19-10 overall and 15-3 in the PacWest. In 2006-07, May was GCU’s associate head coach, helping steer the ‘Lopes to a record of 23-4 overall, 15-0 in the PacWest.

Prior to Grand Canyon, May coached at Bethany for six years, guiding the Swedes to a 127-57 record, two national tournament appearances and one Sweet 16 finish. He was named Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year twice, and was named Kansas Four-Year College Coach of the Year in 2003. He coached two All-Americans at the school.

This is not May’s first coaching opportunity for SNU as he was an assistant for four years. His tenure included a national championship, two title game appearances, four national semifinal appearances and a 122-21 record.

May earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from SNU in 1995 and a master’s degree in kinesiology in 1997.

He, and his wife Angie, have two sons, Grayson and Griffin.