All signs pointed to Schurr football assistant coach Austin Montoya becoming the Spartans’ next head coach after Dave Ramos resigned in December.

Ramos’ 10-year run in charge produced a lot of success, especially over the past two seasons with the Spartans winning back-to-back Almont League championships and finishing 18-4 overall.

Montoya was finally named the head coach at Schurr last week, but he had to go through the hiring process. There were rumors that former Bishop Amat coach Steve Hagerty had interest in the position, as well as many other notable coaches with bigger resumes than Montoya.

Ramos made it clear when he left that Montoya should be his successor, and some of the school’s teachers and players had petitioned the athletic department to hire Montoya.

All of that support, it appears, paid off.

Montoya was an assistant at Schurr in 2016 and ‘17 before leaving to pursue his college degree. He returned in 2021 and was Ramos’ assistant the last four years, focusing on the team’s defense.

He knows he has big shoes to fill, but also says that he’s up to the task.

“I’m humbled and excited to be the next coach at Schurr and all the emotions that come with it,” Montoya said. “I’m a competitor. I wanted the job and felt like my experience here, with the kids, the community and the program made me the best choice to take this program forward.

“I heard about Steve Hagerty (looking into it). There were some former NFL guys that applied. You have to go through the process and I’m appreciative that I had a lot of support here and a lot of people than went to bat for me. What I’ve got to do now is prove everyone right.”

The Spartans reached the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs this past season, where they lost to Muir 22-19 in the first round. It was a tough matchup for the Spartans, but winning during the regular season now leads to tougher playoff matchups.

During Ramos’ 10-year tenure, the Spartans won four Almont League titles, finished 64-39 overall and reached the CIF-SS quarterfinals twice.

Montoya does not envision Schurr taking a step back, as evidenced by scheduling La Serna and Rio Hondo Prep next fall as its two big tests before league play. He also thinks the days of the Spartans in the lower divisions are a thing of the past.

“We have been building towards that (tougher divisions), that’s why we have confidence with our scheduling and playing teams like La Serna and Rio Hondo Prep,” he said. “We have a storied history at Schurr. We have CIF championships and when we were winning them, they weren’t in Division 12 or 13.”

When Lance Mitchell took over at Muir a couple years back, he said his main job was to keep the kids in Muir’s backyard from leaving for neighboring schools.

For Montoya, it’s the same thing.

“For sure, there are a lot of years where we lost kids to La Serna, Bishop Amat and other schools, and it’s our job as coaches to convince those kids they don’t have to,” he said. “There were a lot of seniors from the Montebello Indians (youth program) on other teams this year. We would have had a star-studded SGV team if they stayed home. So, that’s the work. We have to get out and show them what we’re doing here, and obviously, we have had some success that helps.”

Montoya will be the head coach and defensive coordinator. The team will keep assistants Carlos Arredondo and Miguel Aguero on the coaching staff.

“Those are two of my best friends and Schurr legends,” he said of his two assistants. “We know what it’s going to take to keep this going and we’re going to put in the work.”

Schurr will have eight of 11 starters back on one of the best defense’s in the SGV. On offense, it will return a solid receiving core but has to replace four of five starters on the line.

“We lost some on offense, but we have a lot in the cupboard,” Montoya said confidently.