Coach Montgomery – A Meat and Potatoes Kind of Guy

Image from TulsaWorld.com (photographer: Matt Barnard)

I saw a comment on our site recently where a reader was asking what we hear from high school coaches about coach Jerry Montgomery. Oddly enough we’ve had so many coaches offer their unsolicited opinions on coach Montgomery that I had actually already thought about writing a post about exactly what the reader asked.

As I’ve mentioned before on our site, my roommate, John, in grad school was Jerry Montgomery’s teammate. In fact my buddy John played on the DLine with Jerry so he knew him pretty well. When coach Montgomery was hired by Oklahoma the first thing I did was ask John about him and he raved about Jerry. He assured me that Oklahoma had hired a great coach, a great talent evaluator and a great recruiter. One of things that stood out to me about what John said was that coach Montgomery was a great leader back when he played for the Hawkeyes. Players loved Jerry but John actually told me that even his parents loved Jerry! All that just told me that coach Montgomery has always been a stand up guy. He isn’t putting on an act. You can’t fake who you are for over a decade. Coach Montgomery is just an authentic and genuine guy who people love and have always loved.

And that is exactly what we hear from coaches over and over. One coach I was talking to basically told me that other coaches we’re promising a certain player early playing time to entice him to commit. He said Jerry never did that. He said that he promised the opportunity to earn a spot – and he has certainly proven that by the fact that guys like Matt Dimon have played – but he doesn’t make grandiose and empty promises just to get a kid to commit. Another coach told me that a lot of guys will walk in like they’re “too cool for school” talking a big game. He said Jerry is a “meat and potatoes kind of guy”. He said he’s just someone that they trust is going to shoot them straight. They trust that he’s going to be honest and upfront. The coaches just love him and trust that he is going to take care of their players. And while empty promises may get you a kid here or there, in the long run building real relationships with coaches and having the trust of coaches is going to land you more quality players down the road and it’s going to ensure that you get the right kids.

I wish I could record the conversations I’ve had with coaches when they talk about coach Montgomery and share them with y’all because they say a ton of great stuff and they are so enthusiastic when they talk about him. Unfortunately I don’t write any of it down so there is obviously a lot of I’ve left out. But to bottom line it for you, everything I’ve heard about coach Montgomery has been overwhelmingly positive and should get Sooner fans excited. Coach Montgomery isn’t just a good coach, he’s a good guy. He’s someone coaches trust and are willing to open their doors to and just like John’s parent many years ago loved Jerry, recruits parents love coach Montgomery.

55 Comments

  • Jordan Esco says:

    Sounds very much in the mold of what we’ve come to expect from Stoops’ staff. Loved the hire at the time and what I’ve seen this year has only reinforced that initial opinion.

    One thing in particular, as a fan, I’ve always admired in Stoops and his staff is their refusal to sell a kid a bill of goods AND their refusal to try and pressure kids into commitments. It’s one of those things in following recruiting that you always heard about how Mack Brown and Texas did things.

    Maybe it’s cost OU a kid or however many in the past, but I think when you’re doing things the right way — as I believe Stoops and his staff are — it’s about more than just getting a kid to commit.

    it’s about developing that relationship with not only that recruit, but his family, his coach, etc. It’s about the big picture, not just the immediate short term.

    Sounds like Coach Montgomery gets that. Excited to see what the future holds for both him and the OU d-line.

    • Super K says:

      Agree. And if you guarantee kids things and break those promises later it doesn’t do much for trust and team morale.

    • Sooner_Ace says:

      Jordan, glad to see you here. Brainiacs take note, this dude is a keeper!

    • Indy_sooner says:

      I was just thinking how great it would be if you started posting here. Great to see you here! Didn’t post much on CCM but I always loved your game breakdowns man.

      • Jordan Esco says:

        Great to see you too!

        • JSam says:

          Agreed. Don’t know that I ever posted @ CCM but read it often. Always appreciated your good, original articles. I love this site for the same reason and more of it. Plus, the boards and articles are devoid of all the negative message board junk (unless Alabama fans are visiting, lol). CCM was my first stop until this site came around. Your contributions stand to keep it the top shelf, quality site that it already is!

          • Jordan Esco says:

            Thanks for coming over and I agree w/ your stance on the outstanding job the guys here are doing.

    • ToatsMcGoats says:

      Good to see you here. I never even knew this place existed before you posted the link to the “stargazers” article. Thanks for introducing me to a great new site, but even more for the work you did for CCM!

    • DCinAZ says:

      Agreed. Also think a bit of youth on the staff was a needed shot in the arm when it comes to relating to these young men and Monty and Coach B bring that to the table. I’m impressed with both hires so far. Coach B has us run blocking this year. RUN BLOCKING!

    • red clay says:

      Just great.
      Now I’m hooked on another OU site. How am I going to get any work done? I blame you, sir! 🙂
      Looking forward to your articles here. Say – I have a nosy question: are you any relation to the “Joe Esco Tires” folks? I can still hear their ad jingle in my mind.
      I still read and post my gibberish at CCM, under “AnotherOUPLM.” Over here I’ll use the screen name “red clay” in honor of our home state soil.

  • Rashad See says:

    Jordan glad to see you here and hate that you are no longer at the other go to sooner blog I still visit after this one. These guys over here are great guys and the forum will enjoy having your insight here as well.

  • Sooner_Ace says:

    Good coach AND a good guy…as the commercial states ” I like AND better 🙂 Cheers!

  • pitbull17 says:

    New to the site, I guess you could say Jordan brought me with him. I’ve been reading for a while and really enjoy what you guys do. I’m pretty much gonna be calling this place home for my Sooner news from now on! Boomer!

  • pitbull17 says:

    I think Montgomery is the best hire Stoops has made in a while. He took a defensive line that most thought would be a weakness this year and turned it into a strength. I can’t wait to see what he’s able to do with kids that he brings in to the program.

  • CoachStauder says:

    False bill of goods could easily lead to a transfer when the kid doesn’t get what the coach is selling. When you are a genuine guy and a straight shooter kids don’t have failed expectations and it fosters a positive, trusting relationship with coaches. That leads to kids running through walls for you. It’s so hard to find that and it’s not always easy being consistent in doing what you say day in day out. Love this hire as I follow UM as well…was stoked when it happened.

    I’m not saying kids still don’t transfer as sometimes you just aren’t happy and unforeseen things happen, BUT his style will lead to a greater success rate with recruits panning out out of sheer effort by his kids in practice and games.

  • Indy_sooner says:

    Stoops brought in a very good crew, right down to the special teams- credit that he does not seem to be getting. I like the no-BS straight shooters he’s targeted.

  • Ed Cotter says:

    I love Coach Mont’s energy and having the DL coached by one guy has really paid dividends this season. Plus BJW has been stellar with the defensive backfield. The move has worked well all around. Gonna be fun to see how the guys he brings in develop the next couple years.

  • Mitch Callahan says:

    Good stuff. Thanks for throwing that out there. Any info on Bedenbaugh or any others and their approach?

  • JD says:

    I got excited last spring when I heard Monty saying to Favors (I believe it was him) “this isn’t last years defense”…I was like hellz ya!!

    • Super K says:

      me too. In college ball you change things up in the front and pressure and keep your back end simple and in the long run you’ll build a defense that gives people fits.

  • Jared Tyra says:

    Already liked the hire; I remember an interview way back in the spring letting fans know that he could really connect with the players cuz he still liked all the same music, etc. that they like. This article just reinforces that he was a home-run pickup for the defense, good stuff!

    • JY says:

      He’s just such a great teacher. Teaching details and then teaching how to play are huge. Effort, Toughness, Technique…three things that require zero talent! Love it!

  • bjwalker82 says:

    It all begins and ends at the point of attack. Glad to have a wonderful person, coach, and recruiter like Monty at OU. I felt last year that we really lucked out. I hope we are able to keep him around for a good while.

  • HeathC says:

    Great write up Super K. Hopefully Coach Montgomery sticks around a long time. Also good to see you over here Jordan. I look forward bantering with you here.