Mandy Montoya will begin her first year as the Northern New Mexico College Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Montoya was previously the Associate Head Coach for Northern New Mexico Colleges Women’s team back in 2015 -2019. As the associate head coach, Montoya helped guide the team to two Association of Independent Institutions Conference tournament appearances, led player development, was the head coach of the development team, and the head recruiter.
Montoya is a Native to Northern New Mexico and a graduate of Coronado High School. She competed with a high level of intensity in high school basketball which helped lead the Lady Leopards to their only girl’s state championship in 2003. Montoya made history again, as the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Peñasco Independent School District, when she led the Peñasco Lady Panthers to their first girls’ basketball state championship in 2024. Montoya stands in a rare but elite group of individuals who have captured a state title on the court as a player and on the sidelines as the head coach. She also achieved the 100 varsity career wins during the 2024-2025 basketball season.
Montoya received her bachelor’s degree in History from New Mexico Highlands University. She has 13 years of educational experience and has dedicated her career to shaping the minds of students in the classroom and on the court. She is a firm believer in the power of education and instilling the importance of being a student-athlete. Montoya expanded her own education by recently graduating from Eastern New Mexico University with a Master’s in Arts in Educational Administration. She has served as an Athletic Director and was elected to represent the small area A on the New Mexico Activities Associates commission. In her tenure as the head coach for Peñasco Girls Basketball team she guided her teams to a final four appearance, two state championship appearances, and a state championship.
Montoya has been featured in several NMAA highlights. She is well respected and well known across the state of New Mexico which has earned her the honor of being the guest speaker at University of New Mexico’s Mike Bradbury coach’s clinic in 2017 and 2018, and the NMAA Coaches clinic in 2023.
Montoya resides in the beautiful Española Valley and is ready to make her return back to the Eagles Nest.
