Fresno State Athletics
Montez, Curtis Named Baseball Assistant Coaches
7/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 3, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State head baseball coach Mike Batesole reached into the Southeastern Conference and stayed close to home in picking his assistant coaching staff. Tim Montez, who is coming off an NCAA tournament appearance with the University of Arkansas, and former Bulldog player and volunteer assistant coach Matt Curtis were hired today.
"I am very proud to announce the hiring of these two outstanding coaches," Batesole said. "I have known Tim for a long time. He brings a wealth of pitching experience. He's as good a pitching coach and recruiter as there is in the country. We have two guys who respect and understand the commitment the community and university have made in our program. It was important that we hired two coaches that respect the tradition of Fresno State baseball and it was important both coaches can hit the ground running."
Montez has been the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the Razorbacks since 1998. Under his direction, Arkansas' recruiting efforts and pitching have been among the best in the nation. In 1999, he guided his hurlers to a school-record 22 conference victories en route to the Razorbacks' first SEC overall and Western Division titles. This season, the Razorbacks advanced to the Super Regional for the first time in school history. The Razorbacks' team ERA has steady declined under Montez as the 2002 staff recorded a 4.41 ERA.
In addition to the Hogs' team accomplishments under Montez, UA pitchers have flourished individually. Montez helped David Walling develop into one of the best pitchers to wear a Razorback uniform before the New York Yankees took Walling with the 27th overall selection in the first round of the 1999 draft. Walling was followed closely in the draft by Dan Wright, now pitching for the Chicago White Sox.
From 2000-01, four more Razorback hurlers - Brad Bohannan, Cliff Lee and Matt Riethmaier and Wes McCrotty - advanced into professional baseball. Under Montez' direction, each of Arkansas' recruiting classes from 1998-2001 has been ranked among the top 25 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball.
Montez has been a part of successful programs throughout his playing and coaching career. He joined the Razorbacks after serving for one season as the pitching coach at Cal State-Northridge.
A native of Southern California who grew up in Whittier, Montez directed the Pepperdine pitching staff from 1989 to 1990. Pepperdine posted a 78-42-1 record over that two-year period, including one conference title. His staff posted the best ERA in the West Coast Conference in consecutive seasons while leading the Waves to an NCAA West Regional appearance in 1989. Pepperdine boasted the conference pitcher of the year in both seasons along with two freshmen All-Americans.
In 1994, Montez became assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UC-Santa Barbara where he helped lead the Gauchos to the NCAA West Regional in 1996 and signed one of the nation's top recruiting classes, which included Mike Young of the Texas Rangers and Barry Zito of the Oakland A's.
Montez moved on to Cal State-Northridge for one season before joining the Razorbacks for the 1998 campaign.
Montez was a two-sport star at St. Paul High School. He earned all-state honors in both football and baseball as a quarterback and pitcher, respectively. He was named high school athlete of the year in his senior season.
A four-year letterman at Pepperdine, Montez posted a 19-11 record on the mound while collecting three saves and helped the Waves to a Southern California Baseball Association championship in his senior campaign. He earned all-conference recognition after tallying a 6-3 record and a career-best 2.80 ERA in his sophomore season.
Montez was a first-round draft pick of the Mexican League's Mexico City Reds. He played two seasons before returning to the United States to begin coaching.
Tim and wife, Julia, have three sons, David, Ryan and Adam.
Curtis, who will become a full-time assistant coach for the first time, has been Fresno State's volunteer assistant coach for the last two seasons working with the catchers, hitters and coaching first base.
The former Bulldog ironman, Curtis started 155 games to end his career (1993-96). He ranks in the top 10 in school history in games played (215), at bats (761), hits (235), runs (144), doubles (52), walks (116) and RBIs (127). His 52 career doubles rank third in Fresno State history. In 1995 he led the WAC with 22 doubles, at the time the fifth-most in Fresno State history.
Curtis, one of the most versatile players in Bulldog history, was a two-time WAC Scholar-Athlete and the 1995 All-WAC catcher, he played third base as a senior. He was twice selected for the Bulldog's student-athlete Achievement Award. After his career at Fresno State, Curtis was selected by the Angels in the 28th round. He played five seasons of minor league baseball, four with the Angles and one with the Indians, advancing to Double A. Curtis, a native of Visalia, earned an accounting degree from Fresno State in 1998 and a master's in business administration in 2002.
Curtis' wife, Kim, received her master's degree in physical therapy from Fresno State.
"Matt is a bright, young coach who knows baseball," Batesole said. "He is a Bulldog, through and through. Matt is going to be a valuable coach for us. He knows the Valley and is well respected among the alumni and boosters. It will be important for us to make sure the best players from this Valley come to Fresno State and Matt will be a key in making that happen."
Both Curtis and Montez will be begin work on Monday, July 8.
