James Montgomery - Football Coach

James Montgomery

Title:
Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
Email:
jamesmontgomery@mail.fresnostate.edu
Phone:
559-278-3015

THE MONTGOMERY FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Hometown: Cordova, Calif.
High School: Cordova

EDUCATION
Washington State
- Bachelors in Social Science (2011)

COACHING HISTORY
Fresno State
2022-Present: Running Backs/Recruiting Coord.
Cal Poly
2020-21: Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
Sacramento State
2018-19: Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
2016-17: Running Backs
2014-15: Offensive Assistant
Weber State
2013: Quality Control
Del Campo High School
2011-12: Assistant Coach

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Position: Running Back

2006-07: Cal
2008-10: Washington State

Last Updated: Jan. 9, 2023

James Montgomery joined the Bulldogs staff as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Montgomery was hired on Dec. 23, 2021.

His first year at Fresno State was a memorable one as Fresno State became the first program in FBS history to start the season 1-4, and finish with 10 wins. Fresno State ended the year on a nine-game winning streak, and won the 2022 Mountain West Championship and the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.

Year one with the running backs room was big for Montgomery as he coached first team All-Mountain West running back Jordan Mims. The senior back rushed for a single-season career-high 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns. Mims became the first Bulldog to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season since 2014.

Fresno State’s running backs totaled 1,899 net rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. Behind Mims was sophomore Malik Sherrod who had 80 carries for 428 net yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Prior to his time at Fresno State, Montgomery served as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Cal Poly from 2020-21. Under Montgomery, junior Ryan Rivera earned 2021 All-Big Sky second team honors.

Prior to his stint at Cal Poly, he spent six seasons at Sacramento State. Montgomery was an offensive assistant for the Hornets from 2014-15 and was promoted to running backs coach in 2016. He added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2018.

Montgomery oversaw a stable of running backs who combined for the Hornets' best rushing attack in nearly 20 years in 2017. The team had five players with at least 75 rushes during the season and had 12 carry the ball at least once.

In 2016, Montgomery helped lead Jordan Robinson to all-Big Sky honors. The senior rushed for 996 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Robinson closed the season by rushing for at least 100 yards in four consecutive games where he amassed 659 yards and 10 touchdowns during that stretch.

During his first season with the Hornets, Sacramento State set numerous offensive school records. The team broke nine marks, including points (458), points per game (38.2), touchdowns (60) and yards (5,780). As an assistant coach on the offensive line, he helped mentor Aleksandar Milanovic and Derek Nielsen to all-Big Sky third team honors.

In 2015, Montgomery helped mentor Lars Hanson to honorable mention all-Big Sky honors at tackle. Hanson, who was a four-year starter, went on to sign a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos.

Montgomery got his collegiate coaching career started as a quality control at Weber State in 2013.

He began his collegiate playing career at Cal in 2006. Montgomery transferred to Washington State, where he played from 2008-10. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in social science in 2011.

After earning his bachelor's in social science in 2011, Montgomery returned to Sacramento and was an assistant coach at Del Campo High School.

He attended Cordova High School (Sacramento) where he rushed for more than 4,900 yards and 82 touchdowns for the Lancers. He was a Parade Magazine All-American and a first team all-state selection from CalHiSports.com. As a senior, he rushed for 2,183 yards and 39 touchdowns and was the Sacramento Bee's Player of the Year.