Bay FC has entrusted a Bay Area local to be the club’s first head coach ahead of their inaugural 2024 NWSL campaign.
Albertin Montoya, who has played collegiately, professionally, and coached in the San Francisco Bay Area, will be in charge of Bay FC’s recruitment of the team’s first player pool and establish a style of play for the squad.
“As the inaugural head coach of Bay FC, I’m honored to be a part of the foundation upon which our team’s history will be built,” said Montoya during the announcement. “Together, we’ll create a legacy of determination, unity, and excellence.”
“Albertin has strong roots in the rich tradition of Bay Area soccer,” added Aly Wagner, co-founder and co-chair of Bay FC. “He has been a leader in focusing on the technical pillar of development, which is a critical piece to bringing the beautiful game to life.”
Montoya was born in Cuba and immigrated with his family to the United States as a child. They eventually settled in Mountain View. A midfield/forward on the pitch, he first played for North Carolina State in college and was an ACC First-Team selection before joining Santa Clara in 1996, helping lead the team to their first-ever outright WCC championship. Montoya was also a finalist for the Hermann Award and Missouri Athletic Club Award, given to the top college player in the NCAA.
His play earned him a roster spot on the USMNT U-17 and U21 sides. He also featured for the USISL’s San Francisco United All Blacks in 1995 and was a first-round selection for the San Jose Clash, as the San Jose Earthquakes were known at the time.
During his first game on the pitch for the Clash, Montoya suffered a knee injury 59 minutes into the game, eventually ending his professional career.
However, the setback opened up a new path as a soccer coach, particularly in women’s soccer.
He first started coaching the Under 8, 9, and 10 girls sides at Mountain View Los Altos soccer club. He also worked as a volunteer assistant on the Stanford women’s soccer staff and an assistant coach at his alma mater, Santa Clara.
His first adult coaching experience came as co-head coach for the WPSL’s California Storm from 1999-2006. That lead to being named the head coach for Women’s Professional Soccer’s FC Gold Pride in 2009, leading the club to the championship in 2010 with a roster that included Marta, Kelly O’Hara, Ali Riley, and Christine Sinclair. He was named women’s soccer coach of the year by Soccer America in 2010.
Montoya next led the US Women’s National Team U-17 side in 2011-2012. More recently, he founded the Montoya Soccer Academy in Los Altos, California, developing some of the top young soccer talent in the region. Montoya was also interim manager for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit in 2022.
The head coach interview process was run by Bay FC General Manager Lucy Rushton and included dozens of candidates worldwide.
“We entered into the head coach selection process with a very definitive list of desired qualities and credentials, and as we moved through the process, Albertin was by far our leading candidate,” noted Rushton. “His football philosophy—and his strong commitment to it—matches up perfectly with the style of play and the team identity we want our club to embody.”
