The Rio Mesa High and local baseball communities are reeling from the sudden loss of assistant coach Matt May.
Head coach Jacob Regalado announced the death of his longtime third-base coach on social media on Thursday, Sept. 17.
Rio Mesa players and alumni held a candlelight vigil in May’s memory on the baseball field Thursday night. A moment of silence in May’s honor is planned for Friday night’s Camarillo at Rio Mesa football game.
“We are devastated by this loss,” wrote Regalado. “For so many of us, it is difficult to imagine Rio Mesa baseball without Coach May.
“Coach May loved baseball, but even more than the game, he loved his players. He cared about the young men he coached, believed in them, challenged them, and took tremendous pride in watching
them grow both on and off the field.”
May, 38, who played under head coach Davis Soliz at Rio Mesa, had coached the Spartans since 2016. He missed much of the 2026 season recovering from heart surgery in March.
“Several months ago, our amazing baseball community rallied around Coach May as he prepared for heart surgery,” wrote Regalado. “We were overwhelmed by the love and support shown by our Rio Mesa families, friends, alumni, and local high school baseball programs. It was a powerful reminder of just how many lives Coach May touched.”
May leaves behind his girlfriend Nichole and 3-year-old son Jordan. A GoFundMe set up to support them in May’s absence surpassed $25,000 in the first 24 hours.
As the condolences have flowed into Soliz’s phone, the Ventura College baseball coach noticed the word “genuine” was used to describe May repeatedly.
“The desire to help kids get better, that’s what separated him as a coach,” Soliz said. “He coached for the right reason.”
May was the third of six siblings, including four boys who played baseball at Rio Mesa. He underwent a series of procedures as a child to correct a problem with his heart, according to Regalado.
“He was a fighter throughout his life,” Regalado said.
Soliz remembered a teenage May as an infielder who was a strong defender and baserunner.
“He was that grinder,” Soliz said. “He was a tough, fierce competitor. That’s what attracted me to him as a player really early on.”
Soliz would hire May at Rio Mesa, first to coach the lower levels, then promoting him to varsity. May had also recently helped him with the Conejo Oaks summer team.
“What drew to Matt as a coach, he was an extremely good communicator,” Soliz said. “He cared so much about the kids, the program. … He cared about me.”
Soliz briefly paused to compose himself.
“Coaches impact players,” Soliz continued. “But players impact coaches, as well. Matt made a difference in my life.”
Regalado and Rio Mesa athletic director Chris Ruffinelli informed the team Thursday morning, hours after May had died at Community Memorial Hospital. Support was provided to students in the school’s Wellness Center.
As the day progressed, the program’s alumni began filtering onto campus to pay their respects.
“A coach’s impact is measured in so much more than wins and losses,” Regalado wrote. “It lives on in the players he mentored, the lessons he taught, the friendships he made, and the countless memories created along the way.
“Coach May’s impact will remain a part of Rio Mesa baseball for years to come.”
Joe Curley covers baseball for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook, Bluesky and TikTok.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Sudden death of Rio Mesa baseball coach sends communities reeling
