From orange to red: Former Austin star takes over as Hartselle quarterbacks coach

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Aug. 7—HARTSELLE — Sometimes it's just good to be home.

Not long ago, Paxton Montgomery was the quarterback of the Austin Black Bears, amassing a 22-5 record as a starter while helping the team win two region championships and advance to the state semifinals in 2016 and quarterfinals in 2017. Now, after nearly a decade away, he's back in the area as the new quarterbacks coach of the Hartselle Tigers.

It may be a few miles away from his old home in Decatur, but Montgomery said it's close enough.

"There's nothing quite like being back home," he said. "I'm excited, my wife's excited, and I know my parents are excited because they're closer to their grandbabies."

Since graduating from Austin, Montgomery has been in Auburn, where he attended college and then landed a coaching job, serving three seasons as a special teams and defensive analyst for Auburn.

After Alex Golesh took over as Auburn's new head football coach last December though, Montgomery was looking for a new job.

"It's a weird situation to be in because you're suddenly looking for a job, and at that point you're just relying on connections. I interviewed for some college jobs at Alabama, Wofford, New Mexico and other places, and then we found out my wife was pregnant with our second child," Montgomery said. "At that point, we knew it was time to come home."

An old Austin connection got Montgomery to Hartselle: former Austin head basketball coach and current Hartselle athletic director Jake Miles.

"I was going to go to Hazel Green with Juwan Simpson, and then he took the East Limestone job. Coach Miles had been on me before, and then they had a job open up. It was honestly just God's timing," Montgomery said.

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Joining a rival

For people who know Montgomery, it'll be different seeing him in the red of Hartselle instead of the orange and black of Austin.

"Wearing red has been the weirdest part about it," Montgomery said. "I played at Austin, where our rivals were Decatur and Hartselle, and then I coached at Auburn, where our rivals were Alabama and Georgia, so I honestly didn't have a single red shirt in my closet."

Austin head football coach Jeremy Perkins, who coached Montgomery, said it will be tough seeing his former player on the opposite sideline when the Black Bears play Hartselle.

"As a head coach, I always want to see my former players have success, and Paxton has a bright future in this business," Perkins said. "It is bittersweet, though, seeing him go to a rival school. I hope he still bleeds orange and black."

It'll be just as weird for Montgomery, who not only will be coaching against his alma mater and former coach, but also against his former teammate and best friend Asa Martin. However, he said there's something exciting about going against each other.

"Coach Perkins is my mentor. He's the reason I got into coaching, and Asa is my closest friend in the world. When the time comes, it'll be fun," Montgomery said.

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Living up to a standard

As the new quarterback coach at Hartselle, Montgomery has big shoes to fill.

He's replacing Will Lang, Hartselle's former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, who's now the head coach at Guntersville. While the offensive coordinator role will be handled by Grant Lake, the job of coaching quarterbacks is just as important. That's because Lang built a track record of coaching elite quarterback play that produced three Decatur Daily Players of the Year: Luke Godsey (2018), JT Blackwood (2021) and Carter Lee (2025).

"I think Coach Lang is one of the best offensive minds, not just in high school football, but in football. He's someone I have a lot of respect for," Montgomery said. "I don't look at it as having to fill his shoes though. I look at it as a great opportunity to continue a standard that's been set."

Hartselle head coach Bert Newton said Montgomery was the perfect fit for such a crucial role.

"I feel like I can coach any position, but I've never tried quarterback. It's the most important position for a reason, and it takes a special coach to coach it," Newton said. "We wanted to get the best quarterback guy we could get, and he certainly has the pedigree."

Hartselle hasn't named its starting quarterback, but Montgomery isn't lacking prospects. Senior Davis Amos and junior Asa Priola are competing for the job, while sophomore Ross Letson and freshman Bryce Whatley have both been described as talented youngsters with high ceilings.

"It's like being in a candy store," Montgomery said. "All four of them could start at a lot of places."

As the season draws near, Montgomery said he's most looking forward to experiencing Friday night lights in J.P Cain Stadium, this time on the home team.

"I remember when I was playing at Austin, you knew when you went to play Hartselle the atmosphere was just going to be different," he said. "I think it's the most college-like atmosphere in Alabama. The whole town shuts down to come out on Friday nights, and I can't wait to be a part of that."

— caleb.suggs@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2395. Twitter @CalebSuggs2

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