Montoya brings decades of coaching experience and deep Bay Area roots to lead the NWSL expansion team in 2024
San Francisco (Sept. 27, 2023) – Bay FC, the Bay Area’s newest professional sports franchise and a member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), today announced Albertin Montoya as the club’s first head coach.
Montoya is a widely respected developer of soccer talent who has enjoyed coaching success at the professional, collegiate, and youth national and club level. The 48-year-old, whose family moved to the Bay Area from Cuba when he was six years old, will lead the team as it begins to establish a signature Bay FC playing style when it kicks off the 2024 season.
“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 Bay FC Head Coach Albertin Montoya. “Together, we’ll create a legacy of determination, unity, and excellence. Our journey begins today, and I’m eager to recruit and lead an elite group of athletes towards a future filled with triumphs, and together, we’ll write the remarkable story of Bay FC.”
Montoya will begin work immediately to build out the club’s complete coaching staff and roster.
“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. 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. His reputation within the football community also speaks for itself – there is a tremendous amount of respect for him as a coach, as a leader and as a person,” said Lucy Rushton, General Manager of Bay FC. “His history of excellence, developing talent and his passion for the game is unmatched and will inspire players and fans alike.”
Montoya was selected after an exhaustive process that began with a pool of dozens of potential candidates representative of football programs around the globe. The head coach selection process was led by Rushton, who joined Bay FC as General Manager in June, with support from the broader Bay FC organization.
“Albertin has strong roots in the rich tradition of Bay Area soccer. 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,” said Aly Wagner, co-founder and co-chair of Bay FC. “Every day we get one step closer to seeing what our club will do on the field!”
Montoya most recently served as the interim head coach for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit in 2022. His Bay Area ties run deep, having coached and played in the region throughout his youth, collegiate, and professional career. He served as head coach of FC Gold Pride as part of the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) League from 2009 to 2010—leading the team to a championship season in 2010—and co-head coach of California Storm as part of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) from 1999 to 2006. As the head coach of the U17 U.S. Women’s Youth National Team, he led the team to the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) championship in 2012. He also played collegiately at Santa Clara University and was a first-round draft pick in the MLS for the San Jose Clash, now known as the San Jose Earthquakes, in 1998.
In addition to his professional coaching career, Montoya founded Montoya Soccer Academy (MSA), an elite youth soccer program based in Los Altos, Calif., that has developed some of the Bay Area’s top youth soccer talent and coached at the Mountain View Los Altos (MVLA) Soccer Club. He has had the opportunity to coach numerous elite athletes from USA, Brazil, New Zealand, Canada and France that have gone on to be World Cup and Olympic champions.
Montoya has been recognized as the Soccer America Women’s Coach of the Year and FIFA Women’s World Coach of the Year finalist in 2010. He holds a USSF “A” License and will begin coaching for the team leading up to its inaugural season in Spring 2024.
About Bay Football Club
Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Bay FC was established in April 2023 and co-founded by USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner in partnership with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group of leading tech, business and sports executives. Sixth Street’s investment is the largest institutional investment to date in a women’s professional sports franchise. Bay FC is changing the face of women’s soccer as we know it. Beginning play in the 2024 season, we are building a squad that will play the beautiful game with power, passion, energy, and creativity. Ticket deposits are now open for Bay FC at bayfc.com and fans can follow Bay FC’s social channels (@wearebayfc) for the latest news, merchandise, and events.
