For just the second time in 30 years, the Iowa Central football program will need a new head coach.

Jesse Montalto, who replaced long-time leader Kevin Twait, has resigned to accept a coordinator role at an FBS program.

Montalto spent the last eight years building the tradition of Triton football back into contenders on a national level in junior college.

“This was a very difficult decision to make because of how special Iowa Central is to me,” Montalto said. “I’ve loved my time here, the people I’ve been able to work with and the kids we’ve brought in.

“My family and I will cherish the memories we’ve made at Iowa Central forever.”

The Tritons won eight consecutive bowl games under Montalto, who finished with a career record of 58-30. They went 8-4 this past fall, with two of those losses coming to the squads who played for the national crown,

“Coach Montalto brought Iowa Central into the new-age of junior college football and established his own tradition of excellence, building off what Coach Twait left,” ICCC athletic director Guy Horn said. “When Coach Montalto came in, the first thing I noticed was he is a players’ coach. He developed great relationships with the student athletes, which in turn, earned him the respect and ability to do things that many others many not have been able to do without that trust.”

Horn was the head athletic trainer during Montalto’s first several seasons on campus before transitioning into replacing Twait as athletic director.

“Coach Montalto was there to help guide me with the football program and what they needed,” Horn said. “He was a great peer to work hand-in-hand with, and give the student athletes the best experience possible.

“There was a level of disappointment for me when Coach Montalto told me about his decision, because I consider him a friend and Iowa Central was losing an incredible leader of young men. But these kinds of opportunities to work with an FBS program as a top coordinator don’t come around very often, so I am super excited for him to grow as a professional. I completely understand that he couldn’t pass it up.”

Horn said they are looking to have a new head coach in place quickly, as applications are now being accepted and reviewed.

“This is a giant opportunity for us for growth as a football program,” Horn said. “We saw growth from Coach Twait to Coach Montalto, and that just leaves us more room to grow from Coach Montalto to the next coach.

“We want to move forward as fast as we can. We want our student athletes to get to know our next head football coach and develop that same trust they had with Coach Montalto.”