By Tim Peterson
(Santa Fe Springs) – Austin Montoya has stepped down as the head football coach at Schurr to take over as the head football coach at St. Paul he confirmed Thursday.
Montoya, in his one year as head coach, led the Spartans to an overall record of 7-4 which included a perfect 5-0 record in the Almont League. Schurr lost in the first round of the CIF Division 7 playoffs to Saugus 22-19.
Montoya a longtime assistant prior to taking over as head coach, served two separate stints under previous Schurr head coach David Ramos.
Montoya takes over for Mike Moschetti who resigned in December after three years at the helm. St. Paul went 4-8 last year and fell in the second round of the CIF Division 5 playoffs to Redondo Union 14-13.
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Should’ve just kept Rick Zepeda. Whoever screwed that up is an idiot
It’s interesting to note that when USC hired Lincoln Riley, there was no discussion about whether this appointment came with a teaching job. The obvious point was that the school’s football program was so gosh-darn important, it was worth the millions spent. Now compare Riley’s situation to that of young Montoya at St Paul. This kid has to be concerned about affording life’s bare necessities, not with which oceanfront property he’s going to live in. It’s shameful and ridiculous to not understand what football means to a high school…it’s wrong to make these men financially insecure for doing so much that furthers their school’s image. I’ve said before that H.S. football coaches need to be made part of the faculty everywhere, with pay and benefits equal to the rest. I’ll keep saying it until my last breath.
@? Many public schools do not offer these amenities . Some do to a greater or lesser extent . It’s a big problem . What about coordinators ? How much work do they put in at the quality programs . Walk on coaches are disenfranchised , and these are the majority at many schools . Stipends come in well after season concluded and are taxed at higher rate because whole season condensed into one check .The whole season pay is less than a month of teaching . Typically there is no playoff bonus , so continue working for free – enjoy the ride !
This is why coaches mentally often check out —— sometimes absenteeism explodes in final weeks of losing season. It’s the only way to increase your hourly rate . Fortunately most coaches are in it for different reasons , show up and survive in service of the kids and game we love .
Expectations will lower at St. Paul and Montoya may do well in that framework. He can do ok substituting at a private school- but it is like a provisional appointment.
I thought Moschetti did a great job in some respects ; he tried to shoot the moon and didn’t quite make it being a D-2 to 4 type team . He won some tough games and they played monster schedule . I think they’ll reconfigure and be happy D5-7 type as under previous regime .
I’ve often thought about starting a union for walk on coaches . We need to stay together to be appreciated , particularly financially .
Let’s be brutally honest and admit that for St Paul, football is the whole ball of wax. Had it not been for the late great Marijon Ancich making the place a football powerhouse, God only knows how the place would have survived this long. So of course, the current administration has decided to reduce its monetary support for football. Fits right in with all the other crazy things going on these days.
What’s St Paul doesn’t fully grasp is that if you want a coach that is capable; on the young side, experienced and t;hat will stay for a while you are going to have to pay him commensurate with other schools that you compete with. Even players want their coach to be well compensated and respected that way the players can respect him. I do not know coach Montoya but in his statements to the Whittier news he indicated that he hopes to turn this gig into a teaching position at St Paul. That is a stretch because more often than not it does not happen unless he has a miracle season or two at St Paul. It took schools like Sierra Canyon and St Francis and Oak Christian Seasons to turn their programs around and compete with the big boys but they all had one unifying Factor, they had to pay their head coaches. Public Schools pay their head coaches well but in different ways. Some with long-term teaching jobs that compensate them very well as well as reduced schedules so they have the time to coach their teams year-round. These are necessary perks to the head coaches if they want them to stick around at their school and knowing some of these coaches they really appreciate it and need it. So I wish well to coach Montoya but he has a uphill job in replacing a unhappy coach as well as being able to earn the respect of his players without brow beating them. That’s a tough job at a private because these players expect something not necessarily there to give something.
@NWO …. Does Keppel even count ?
This hire and whole process from Admin in deciding this was the correct way to go for the future is an absolute joke. Shame on Robert Miller for even considering this guy’s application, let alone hiring him. There is a little bit of difference when you are playing at Bishop Amat this year and him and his staff is going to find out the hard way. A pop warner coach and 7 on 7 guy thinks it’s all fun and games until he is at Amat or at Servite and you are booed and questioned by Alumni. Montoya and Miller better have some good explanations on why they are getting waxed and out coached badly. There is no more Alhambra and Mark Keppel on the schedule anymore. This is an absolute shame by everyone involved at St Paul. This job will be open a year from now. Do better St Paul! Time for a change at the top?
That’s three coaches that left the Almont league for this upcoming season.
A good hire. An example of striking while the iron is hot. Now let’s see if he stays a while.
Interesting to see what will happen at Schurr. I’m looking forward to see how the Schurr-El Rancho battle will go for one of the new leagues. One team hasn’t been challenged in their league for a few years and the other desperately needed to get away from a team that was in a different weight class than them.
Montoya is not a St.Paul caliber coach. He’s the Pete Hegseth of coaching, running around yelling war and involving himself in school yard controversies. Was he really the head coach at Schurr or was Ramos quietly running the program behind the scenes? After all, Montoya is taking credit for Schurr’s accomplishments over the past four years while Ramos was either the HC or OC.
If sixty guys did apply for this job, it means they all thought there was money to spare at any private. The awful truth is that the facility on Greenleaf is hanging on by a thread. The school had to hire a guy of humility and low monetary expectations because the cash register at St Paul is empty.
SP unwilling to pay the necessary compensation for a quality head coach. The principal said this coach checked all the boxes. Which is to say the low compensation box. Basically a walk on with maybe a sub teacher role.
No different than Moschetti being connected with the LM youth kids, and Rick Z being connected with the youth leagues and his assistant running quick strike 7v7. The problems St Paul faces are plenty, too expensive, below average education, abysmal facilities, low enrollment. I heard a few very proven coaches were passed up here. Very risky to hire a 7v7 recruiter unless they are content with meddling in the D7-D10 level.
Austin is connected with the youth leagues but st.Paul had lot of good candidates they choose to take a risk on a young proven head coach
It was reported that there were at least 60 coaches applying for this job, most of them head coaches or former head coaches. St Paul hires a guy with one year head coaching experience. Something does seem a little off with this decision.
I get it, young up and coming coach however the way Robledo and Shark boy talk about this guy is hilarious. At this point he has yet to win anything at any level, anyone could’ve won the Almont the last decade it’s been that bad. Those kids at schurr were recruited out of the area to follow him and now they can’t follow him to St. Paul, that is why you should never follow any coach anywhere. I keep hearing slam dunk and home run and I still don’t see it, those same words were said about Moschetti.
This isn’t the Almont league anymore Toto
As I have said elsewhere, St Paul is officially the place coaches go to ruin whatever is left of their reputation. Given that reality, it’s no wonder the school had to enlist a man who has very little reputation to destroy. How much longer can anyone pretend this dinky, old place can be rejuvenated?
An amazing coach but an even better human being. Many will say that he isn’t a true Spartan but he showed more hard work and dedication than majority of alumni. He devoted so much to Schurr Football (again more than many alumni) and gave so much to the kids. Although it’s sad to see him leave my alma mater, he made a choice that God led him to for his family and himself.
For those who want to try and disrespect Austin, just remember HE put Schurr back on the map as a top program in the area. Schurr was back to D6/D7 after 20 or so years of being lower divisions (D10 and LOWER). The funniest thing is that he won’t even take credit for it because of how humble he is.Say what you want, but HE IS A SPARTAN FOREVER.
An amazing coach but an even better human being. Many will say that he isn’t a true Spartan but he showed more hard work and dedication than majority of alumni. He devoted so much to Schurr Football (again more than many alumni) and gave so much to the kids. Although it’s sad to see him leave my alma mater, he made a choice that God led him to for his family and himself.
For those who want to try and disrespect Austin, just remember HE put Schurr back on the map as a top program in the area. Schurr was back to D6/D7 after 20 or so years of being lower divisions (D10 and LOWER). The funniest thing is that he won’t even take credit for it because of how humble he is.Say what you want, but HE IS A SPARTAN FOREVER.