J.W. Montgomery wants to go retro – in a BIG way.
The new head football coach at Aiken High School is an offensive-minded coach who wants to turn back the clock on a program that has struggled to maintain a foothold on gridiron dominance in recent years. The program has had one winning season in the last eight seasons, and has not advanced out of the opening round of the state playoffs since 2005.
Coach Montgomery remembers a different time in Aiken High football – a time when opponents feared the Green Hornets. From 2000 to 2005, Aiken High appeared in the Class AAAA Division-II Upper State championship game three times and played for the state title once. The Green Hornets were the Class AAAA Division-II state champions in 1992.
Montgomery, who currently serves as a math teacher, assistant football coach and offensive coordinator, and assistant boys’ golf coach at Irmo High School, says he wants to bring those days back during his tenure as head coach.
“Traditionally, Aiken High has had great success on the football field and I know that they have always had great potential and I saw this as an opportunity to bring those glory days back to Aiken High,” Montgomery stated. “I can remember when people were afraid to come down to play Aiken High and I am just excited to try and bring those days back and focus on winning championships.
“When people look at our program, I want them to see a team that is well coached, disciplined and that plays a hard-nosed brand of football. I want them to be fundamentally sound and I want them to be very physical and get after it on the football field. Those are going to be things you should see when our team is on the field.”
Montgomery was the top choice for the school’s interview panel, according to school Aiken High Principal Mr. Garen Cofer.
“Aiken High is extremely excited to bring in J.W. Montgomery as the new head varsity football coach,” Cofer stated. “Coach Montgomery was the unanimous first choice of the interview committee which consisted of 10 people.
“Coach Montgomery is a high-energy guy who thrives on fostering strong positive relationships, and we feel that he will serve as an excellent resource for the students of Aiken High School.”
Montgomery’s hiring was approved by the Aiken County Board of Education during Tuesday’s regular meeting, and announced at a Wednesday afternoon press conference. He will teach mathematics while also serving as the school’s head football coach.
Montgomery says he is a “numbers guy” who is just as comfortable in a classroom setting thanks to growing up in a household of educators.
“I love my numbers,” Montgomery commented. “Both of my parents were educators, so I grew up in a family focused on education. I had a tremendous high school teacher who inspired me to pursue mathematics and eventually be a math teacher, and one of the main things my dad always said was you want be able to count your money, so you better learn your numbers.”
Montgomery earned a Master in Education degree in Sports Administration from American Public University in 2012, in addition to a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from South Carolina State University in 1991.
His teaching and coaching career in South Carolina began in 2004 at Fairfield-Central High School, where the Griffins led the state in scoring during the two seasons Montgomery served as offensive coordinator. Montgomery later served as the head football coach at Lower Richland High School for four seasons, before moving to Dutch Fork High School as the football team’s offensive coordinator prior to his current duties at Irmo High School.
Montgomery will begin work with the District in July.