On January 16, 2026, Belmont Hill said Goodbye to Sr. Montoya after 31 years of Service to Belmont Hill. Sr. Montoya is an alumnus of Boston College, having captained the men’s Soccer Team in his senior year. After graduating in 1984, Sr. Montoya continued his Soccer career as a player, playing for seven seasons in professional soccer. In 1993, He began his Belmont Hill journey and immediately contributed on both sides of campus. Through patience, clarity, and a genuine love of learning, generations of his students have not only learned to speak Spanish but also to appreciate the culture that comes with it.
Sr. Montoya’s legacy at Belmont Hill is best seen in his love of learning and his true passion for bettering his students. Mr. Montoya’s students recall his commitment to learning and to every student. “He focused on every single one of the guys in our class,” recalled Eli Norden ’26. “Even though we were all at different levels, Sr. Montoya worked to level the playing field.” Mr. Montoya’s commitment to his students extended to the other side of campus in equal measure.
Since 1993, Sr. Montoya has coached the Varsity Soccer team, leading them to 15 appearances in the NEPSAC tournament and five ISL titles. Sr. Montoya holds an impressive 340-124-84 record as head coach of the soccer team. Mr. Bracken ’15, Assistant Varsity Coach and former Varsity Soccer athlete, mentioned Sr. Montoya’s “immense sense of fun” and ability to make practices enjoyable. Many of Coach Montoya’s players attest to his contagious enthusiasm that brought an unmatched level of energy into every practice.
Another characteristic that made Sr. Montoya’s coaching special was his ability to adapt. Because of Belmont Hill’s smaller size in comparison to other New England Prep Schools, the recruitment process is often challenging. Coach Montoya’s ability to adapt his style of play to his players while consistently delivering success makes him such a great coach. Even as his team adapted, Coach always enforced a strict culture of teamwork and selflessness. He had very little tolerance for selfish players and teammates, which led to his long-term success. As his time at Belmont Hill comes to a close, the legacy left behind remains clear: stronger students and a program shaped by excellence.
Besides his impressive accolades and success, Sr. Montoya’s true legacy is in the example he set for those around him. Mr. Bracken commended his fun-loving personality and genuine sense of humor. In addition, he mentioned Sr. Montoya’s ability to remain calm and composed in tricky situations multiple times. Mr. Bracken mentioned a match a few years back against Brooks in which the squad was not playing up to par. Despite this, they pulled off an upset win against all odds. Throughout the game and the practices leading up to the match, Mr. Bracken recalls that Sr. Montoya stayed calm and collected. This mentality was not reserved only for game days, either. On the way home from one of the soccer team’s trips to Costa Rica, their flight was canceled, and another one wasn’t available for three days. Even though his team was facing a travel catastrophe, Mr. Bracken lauded his coach’s demeanor: “He was so calm and composed…He ended up getting us home pretty much that same day. And so nothing really fazes him. He’s super calm, and he just models composure under pressure in a really positive way.”
Real legacy isn’t built through championships or banners; it is in the impact coaches have on their players. This situation has certainly not been forgotten by Sr. Montoya’s players and fellow coaches. His ability to stay calm and get the job done speaks to his dedication to his team and his character. Actions like this have made Sr. Montoya a role model and leader on campus.
After 31 years, replacing a figure as influential as Sr. Montoya will not be easy. Mr. Bracken noted that transitions after long-tenured coaches are always challenging at all athletic levels. Belmont Hill soccer has faced similar situations before and has continued to succeed. What makes this transition possible is the foundation Sr. Montoya leaves behind, a program built on accountability, adaptability, and genuine care for its players. Even after the final whistle blew in Dedham on November 11th, Sr. Montoya’s legacy will continue to impact his players, students, and colleagues.
