https://jmusports.com/news/2018/12/28/montgomery-offensive-coordinator.aspxCignetti Tabs Shane Montgomery as JMU Football Offensive Coordinator
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Head Coach Curt Cignetti has appointed Shane Montgomery as the program's new offensive coordinator. Montgomery brings 28 years of Division I coaching experience to JMU, including 12 years at the FBS level, four of which he spent as a head coach.
"Shane has a wealth of experience; philosophically, we're aligned in terms of what I believe is important – to have a total team plan and winning football games," Cignetti said. He's adjusted his offense over the years according to his personnel. He's coached in a national championship game, has beaten North Dakota State, as well as FBS teams, and has been a head coach in the Mid-American Conference. He has a great reputation in the profession and is a great fit for us at JMU."
Most recently, he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this past season at Charlotte. The 49ers won five games in 2018, which was a program-record at the FBS level. They also finished .500 in Conference USA play for the first time, going 4-4 in league games.
Prior to his brief stint with the 49ers, Montgomery led the offense for eight seasons (2010-17) at Youngstown State, coaching the top quarterback some of the best running backs in school history. In each of his eight seasons, YSU threw and rushed for over 2,000 yards. The Penguins achieved the program's top-four outputs of total offense during his tenure (2011, 2016, 2010, 2017) while Montgomery called the plays.
Montgomery helped four-year starter Kurt Hess rewrite the YSU record books during his first four seasons as offensive coordinator. Hess finished his career as the school's all-time leader in completions (706), attempts (1,135), yards (8,925), touchdown passes (75), yards per game (198.4), 200-yard passing games (24), passer rating (144.96), touchdown responsibility (87), four-touchdown passing games (six), total offensive yards (9,459) and total offense per game (210.2).
He was part of YSU's run to the national championship in 2016, which included playoff victories against Samford, at Jacksonville State, versus Wofford and at Eastern Washington before falling to JMU in the title game. That season ended a 10-year playoff drought for the Penguins.
Before his run in Youngstown, Montgomery spent one season as offensive coordinator at Akron (2009) and eight years at Miami (OH), serving as offensive coordinator (2001-04) and head coach (2005-08). He also led the offensive during his four years at the helm. While at Miami, Montgomery mentored two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who set 21 program records in three seasons before being the 11th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Roethlisberger threw for over 10,000 yards and 80 touchdowns in his three-year collegiate career.
Montgomery also had stops as an assistant at Chattanooga (1993-00) and at NC State (1991-92) where he was a quarterback from 1986-89. He was a three-year starter and led the Wolfpack to two bowl berths, earning Offensive MVP honors at the 1988 Peach Bowl and 1989 Copper Bowl. He was a Second Team All-ACC selection in 1989 and finished his career with over 5,000 passing yards and 31 touchdowns.