North Andover, Mass. – Ralph "RJ" Montez has been named the new Director of Golf at Merrimack College. Montez will serve as the head coach for both the men's and women's golf teams, bringing with him a diverse background in collegiate and professional golf leadership, as announced by Director of Athletics Joe Foley Tuesday morning.
"RJ brings a dynamic blend of collegiate coaching, professional golf expertise, and a genuine passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the course", said Foley. "His track record in recruiting, player development, and competitive excellence speaks volumes, and I am confident he will elevate our men's and women's golf programs to new levels of success. Merrimack Golf has a bright future under RJ's leadership."
Montez arrives at Merrimack following a strong tenure at the University at Albany, where he most recently served as the assistant women's golf coach. During his time at UAlbany, the Great Danes won a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship during the 2023-24 season. The following year they placed second in the conference tournament. Montez was instrumental in elevating the program's competitive profile at UAlbany. He led efforts to recruit nationally ranked junior golfers, expanded the team's use of performance analytics and simulator technology, and coordinated large-scale fundraising initiatives.
"I couldn't be more excited to join Merrimack College as its next Director of Golf", said Montez. "Every person I have met so far has been so welcoming. I appreciate all the time Joe Foley, Shanna Alexander, Ross Mehalko, Ciaran Cullen and Jen Konopisos spent speaking with me throughout the process. After getting to know more and more about Merrimack College I realized how special a place it is and how much desire we have as a group to see our student athletes succeed. I feel like there couldn't be a better time to be at Merrimack and am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together!"
Prior to his time in UAlbany, Montez was the head women' golf coach at Whittier College in California after spending one season as the assistant coach for the men's and women's team. His efforts helped build the foundation for competitive success at the Division III level, focusing on player development, team logistics, and the student-athlete experience.
His coaching career is rooted in extensive experience as a golf professional, having led teams and instruction programs at several well-regarded golf clubs in California, including Bay View Golf Club in Milpitas and Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club. At Bay View, Montez managed a full team of golf professionals and executed detailed annual plans in partnership with industry leaders such as Titleist, Srixon, and Callaway. He also led the Bay View Junior Academy for a number of years
Montez holds a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Monterey Bay, and a Master's degree in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco.
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