Thirty-two days came and went, now American Canyon High has its fourth football head
coach in eight years.
coach in eight years.
American Canyon’s administration coupled with the Napa Valley Unified School District
appointed John Montante to lead the program just slightly over one month after Larry
Singer resigned. Singer’s reason given for stepping down was to spend more time with his
family. Singer, who will remain at the school as a culinary arts teacher, had been involved
with the football program since the school opened, serving as head coach of the freshman
and junior varsity teams before taking the varsity position from 2015-2017 after Ernie
Lawson resigned. Lawson stepped down after just one season. Ian MacMillan was the
Wolves head coach from 2011-2013.
appointed John Montante to lead the program just slightly over one month after Larry
Singer resigned. Singer’s reason given for stepping down was to spend more time with his
family. Singer, who will remain at the school as a culinary arts teacher, had been involved
with the football program since the school opened, serving as head coach of the freshman
and junior varsity teams before taking the varsity position from 2015-2017 after Ernie
Lawson resigned. Lawson stepped down after just one season. Ian MacMillan was the
Wolves head coach from 2011-2013.
Montante will join American Canyon High as a full-time staff member as he has credentials
to teach both social studies and physical education.
to teach both social studies and physical education.
The 37-year old Montante spent last season as the offensive line coach at Chabot College
(Hayward) after a three-year stint as a co-offensive coordinator at Gavilan College (Gilroy),
also doubling as offensive line coach. Montante was the head coach of Watsonville High
from 2012-2013.
(Hayward) after a three-year stint as a co-offensive coordinator at Gavilan College (Gilroy),
also doubling as offensive line coach. Montante was the head coach of Watsonville High
from 2012-2013.
Montante was the offensive line coach last year at Chabot College. He spent three seasons,
from 2014-2016, as the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Gavilan
College in Gilroy.
from 2014-2016, as the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Gavilan
College in Gilroy.
Montante graduated from Monterey High School and Cal State Monterey Bay, earning a
degree in kinesiology, while also getting his state teaching credential. Montante received
his master’s in education from the University of Missouri.
degree in kinesiology, while also getting his state teaching credential. Montante received
his master’s in education from the University of Missouri.
Montante served as the head coach for one year at Marina High in Monterey County. He
was also the offensive coordinator for two years at Foster High in Tukwila, Washington
for two years and was an assistant at Monterey High.
was also the offensive coordinator for two years at Foster High in Tukwila, Washington
for two years and was an assistant at Monterey High.
I have not met Montante and nor do I know him but perhaps I’ll get the chance in the not
too distant future. However, I had a chance to exchange an instant message via social media
on Friday evening. Two things that bear watching is a) What will his base scheme be? And
b) Who comprises his assistant coaches?
too distant future. However, I had a chance to exchange an instant message via social media
on Friday evening. Two things that bear watching is a) What will his base scheme be? And
b) Who comprises his assistant coaches?
As for Part A, the Wolves, who open the season Aug. 17 at home against Deer Valley
(Antioch) have run an option based offense from Day One whether it’s the Houston Split
Back Veer or the Flexbone Offense.
(Antioch) have run an option based offense from Day One whether it’s the Houston Split
Back Veer or the Flexbone Offense.
“I've coached in a lot of different schemes in the past,” Montante said. “I grew up running
the veer in high school at Monterey High and that's the first offense I learned how to run. I
love the option and was excited that American Canyon is an option offense. I've coached in
spread offenses that have thrown a lot and used zone read and RPOs (Run-Pass Option) as
the focal point of the run game. I've coached in offenses that heavily influenced and rooted
in the West Coast Offense as well. The schemes people will see when they come watch us
will look familiar to American Canyon football.”
the veer in high school at Monterey High and that's the first offense I learned how to run. I
love the option and was excited that American Canyon is an option offense. I've coached in
spread offenses that have thrown a lot and used zone read and RPOs (Run-Pass Option) as
the focal point of the run game. I've coached in offenses that heavily influenced and rooted
in the West Coast Offense as well. The schemes people will see when they come watch us
will look familiar to American Canyon football.”
That box is a significant one to check because with the exception of Jonathan Bade and
Lucas Gramlick, the Wolves offensive line has never been confused with a Joe Gibbs’
Washington Redskins offensive line. However, at skill positions, the Wolves have always
had speed to burn. It won’t take long for Montante to see that option/misdirection offenses
will use American Canyon’s speed to its advantage.
Lucas Gramlick, the Wolves offensive line has never been confused with a Joe Gibbs’
Washington Redskins offensive line. However, at skill positions, the Wolves have always
had speed to burn. It won’t take long for Montante to see that option/misdirection offenses
will use American Canyon’s speed to its advantage.
As for the coaching staff, besides Singer, assistant coach Kirk Anderson left for a position
on the Will C Wood (Vacaville) staff. Montante, however, welcomes the fact a large number
of assistants remain.
on the Will C Wood (Vacaville) staff. Montante, however, welcomes the fact a large number
of assistants remain.
“The staff is largely intact,” Montante said. “They have been great during this transition.
They have kept the kids involved and have made me feel welcome. I've been impressed by
the level of knowledge and mentoring ability they possess as coaches, which will come in
handy for our kids on Varsity, JV, and Freshman teams.”
They have kept the kids involved and have made me feel welcome. I've been impressed by
the level of knowledge and mentoring ability they possess as coaches, which will come in
handy for our kids on Varsity, JV, and Freshman teams.”
Montante steps into a job that has curb appeal between winning tradition (55-28 record with
six titles in the non defunct Solano County Athletic Conference), great facilities and despite
the administrative turnover is a desirable school for families to send their youngster.
six titles in the non defunct Solano County Athletic Conference), great facilities and despite
the administrative turnover is a desirable school for families to send their youngster.
Montante told the Napa Valley Register: “I’m very excited. The previous head coaches and
coaching staffs have done a good job of running that program and turning it into a successful
program. The kids are just so hungry to do well and to learn and build a legacy at that school.
As American Canyon grows as a city and American Canyon High School grows as a high
school, we get to write that legacy and write the traditions and write the history.”
coaching staffs have done a good job of running that program and turning it into a successful
program. The kids are just so hungry to do well and to learn and build a legacy at that school.
As American Canyon grows as a city and American Canyon High School grows as a high
school, we get to write that legacy and write the traditions and write the history.”
That comment tells me that while Montante wants his era to establish its own identity, he
respects the success that has come before him.
respects the success that has come before him.
The fact that American Canyon could get a teacher that doubles as a coach on short notice
is significant. I honestly had my doubts.
is significant. I honestly had my doubts.
Montante is also a good fit in that he has coached at the junior college level. American
Canyon has kids on campus now that can play at that level. Montante can a) Show them
how to get there and b) Perhaps convince them that level is a good place to start as opposed
to getting fixated with the Kool Aid based star system leading to a Div. I scholarship.
Canyon has kids on campus now that can play at that level. Montante can a) Show them
how to get there and b) Perhaps convince them that level is a good place to start as opposed
to getting fixated with the Kool Aid based star system leading to a Div. I scholarship.
His two-year record at Watsonville was 7-13 and according to a Santa Cruz Sentinel report
in January 2014, his resignation was based on philosophical differences with the
administration. I see neither as a negative. For openers, Watsonville has had just two
winning seasons since the calendar turned to 2004 under four different coaches. I can’t
speak for the strength of the Pacific Coast Mission League, where Watsonville competes
but at American Canyon, the Wolves have the athletes to regularly compete for titles in
the newly formed Vine Valley Athletic League. American Canyon is joining the CIF North
Coast Section after having spent its first seven in the Sac Joaquin Section. On the clash
with administration, I say who gives a damn. It happens all the time. Football coaches are a
hard-edged breed governed by emotion, which does not always sit well with administrators.
in January 2014, his resignation was based on philosophical differences with the
administration. I see neither as a negative. For openers, Watsonville has had just two
winning seasons since the calendar turned to 2004 under four different coaches. I can’t
speak for the strength of the Pacific Coast Mission League, where Watsonville competes
but at American Canyon, the Wolves have the athletes to regularly compete for titles in
the newly formed Vine Valley Athletic League. American Canyon is joining the CIF North
Coast Section after having spent its first seven in the Sac Joaquin Section. On the clash
with administration, I say who gives a damn. It happens all the time. Football coaches are a
hard-edged breed governed by emotion, which does not always sit well with administrators.
Having said all of this, the Vintage Crushers are viewed by some as the early favorites to
win the VVAL. The status has merit. The Crushers enter their third season under head coach
Dylan Leach and are firmly establishing their culture. I was high on the Leach hire when it
happened and remain that way now. Who knows though, the Wolves might just have a say
in matter.
win the VVAL. The status has merit. The Crushers enter their third season under head coach
Dylan Leach and are firmly establishing their culture. I was high on the Leach hire when it
happened and remain that way now. Who knows though, the Wolves might just have a say
in matter.
The Montante era begins.
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