MidValleySports.Com

By George Hernandez

Santa Fe Springs] – Austin Montoya, after one year as the head coach at Schurr, gets the keys at St. Paul High School.

 Q: What’s up coach? How’s it going?

A: Doing well. My two sons are healthy and active, running around causing chaos, so I can’t complain.

Q: I think we all know you were at Schurr for a while. Are there any other spots you’ve coached at?

A: I’ve only ever been at Schurr when it came to high school coaching. I was given the opportunity to be a student assistant and earn my bachelor’s degree at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, by someone I’m lucky to consider a great friend and mentor, Richard Duran, who is the AD there and a Schurr alumnus. 

Q: I’ve never known you personally but my nephews played for you at Schurr and loved it. I know you loved the program and the players. What made you want to apply for St. Paul when you had a good thing going at Schurr?

A: Chris, Henry, Layla, and their parents are amazing people. Families like that with whom I’ve grown so close, and I’ve been to birthday parties, and I’ve been to the house when Chris just left to Sul Ross. Those families truly made the decision so difficult because I love them. That’s not just a word that I throw around because it’s cool. There were a lot of loved ones and relationships I left to take this opportunity. I’ll say this, The thought of leaving Schurr never came to my head. I had been approached by other schools, and nothing ever came of it because I was truly not interested in leaving. I always thought of myself as a Kobe person, not a LeBron person. I wanted to build something up and not go join the team with all the superstars. Once the seed was planted in my head about St. Paul, though it was hard to ignore. It’s an SGV Blue Blood. I think I live maybe 5 minutes from campus and my son’s school is the exact same distance. In more than one way, it helped me with my family, and because of that, I went through the process and ultimately decided to take this job.  

Q: St. Paul has a tradition of winning big. How are you going to bring that back to the Swordsmen?

A: There is a coach, I’m not sure if you have heard of him, by the name of Marijon Ancich. He won a couple of games back in his day (laughs). Well, I may not have been born a Swordsman, but I am now, and I’m a history buff. What I’ve learned about him, even before taking this job, was that he worked on the docks as a longshoreman and was a grinder. He didn’t take any shortcuts. In no way am I going to tell you that I’m anywhere close to coach A or accomplishing the feats he did, but you asked how I’m going to bring this program back in the spirit of coach A – by doing exactly what he would have done, teaching these young men that there are no shortcuts. There is no substitute for hard work. My staff and I will push these boys to their breaking points and forge these young men into Swordsmen. I’m a poor kid from East LA that only ever got anything good from working hard. It’s how we had success and jumped up so many divisions at Schurr, and it’s how I plan to do it here as well. As simple as it sounds, we’ll bring this place back by working hard. 

Q: Alumni is big at St. Paul and involved. I’m sure you read the boards and X. How have they taken to you?

A: The tradition and the history here are what make this place special. There have been alumni who have been great supporters and are excited about me being here, but there have also been alumni who express doubt in the hire of myself. Again, that’s what makes this place special; people care about this program, good or bad. There is a large community here, and on Friday nights this place is rocking. I’ve been screaming from the mountain tops though and telling everyone of the alumni that reached out to me, and I’ll say it here again. Everything is earned, alumni. If you’re excited about me being here and are giving me your support already, thank you so much. And if you don’t agree with the hire and are doubting me, thank you as well. I’ve never been given anything in my life, and I don’t expect this to be different. I will earn your respect and earn your support.

Q: What do you consider a good first season for you?

A: Wins and losses will take care of themselves. A successful first season for me will be a culture shift to a program built around my vision of creating outstanding young men on the field, yes, but off the field more so. The game of football ends, and I want to give these young men the tools to succeed in life as well. We will operate and do everything with my core values, WAR (We over me, Accountability, Respect), and those values will help my team and me have a successful first year. 

Q: Transfers are huge part of the game now-a-days I saw you got two – a quarterback and a defensive back. What made them want to become a Swordsman.

A: Great academics, high level of competition, small class sizes, and the fraternity that you get entered into when you become a Swordsman. I’m the head coach, so I’m a little biased, but I think it sells itself. Again, like I stated earlier, this is a blue blood in the SGV. 

Q: How is your staff coming along?

A: My Varsity staff is filled, and the lower level is almost complete as well.  I have put together a lot of great men who are ready to work and pour into these young men. 

Q: Have you started any off-season workouts and if so who are a few guys we should look out for next season?

A: Yes, we started the weight room two weeks ago. It’s a little difficult to point out specific people having only had lifted weights, but from a leadership standpoint, we’ve had some great responses, and from the little I’ve seen, these young men below are ones that I’m excited to get to work with and am expecting big things from. Benjamin Lafferre RB/LB, Luis Gonzalez OL, Matthew Cristal OL, Jacob Fernandez DB, Devin Cota DB, Daniel Castaneda WR, Greg Zendzhiryan DL, Visa Hufanga LB and Jeremiah Tahaafe DE.

Q: Thank you for your time coach is there anything else you would like us to know?

A: No brother. I just appreciate all that you, Tim, and everyone else at Mid Valley do for high school sports.