St. John’s Prep Athletic Director Jameson Pelkey has announced that nationally respected tennis leader Francisco Montoya will serve as the next head coach of the Eagles’ varsity tennis program, effective immediately.
Montoya succeeds longtime coach Mark Metropolis, who retired in the spring of 2025 after 35 seasons and a historic career that included six MIAA state championships, 31 Catholic Conference titles, and more than 500 victories.
Montoya arrives at St. John’s with more than three decades of elite coaching, program development, and leadership experience at some of the most respected institutions in the tennis world. Most recently, he served as director of tennis at Montoya Tennis in Boston, where he led training programs, oversaw facility operations, and built partnerships supporting youth engagement and community outreach. Prior to that role, he spent more than 20 years as tennis academy director at Manchester Athletic Club, developing one of New England’s premier player-development pipelines and mentoring both athletes and coaching staff in a collaborative, growth-centered environment.
Montoya also brings nearly a decade of experience from IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL—one of the most competitive junior tennis environments in the world—where he coached players across all levels, coordinated high-level training, and cultivated a team culture rooted in sportsmanship, discipline, and personal development.
A United States Tennis Association (USTA) national faculty coach, USTA high performance coach, and USPTA P1 professional, Montoya is widely regarded as a teacher of the whole athlete. Earlier this year, he received the Gardner Ward Memorial Award from USTA New England, recognizing his lifetime contributions to the sport of tennis in the region.
“Coach Montoya is an outstanding fit for our student-athletes,” said Pelkey, Director of Athletics. “His coaching philosophy aligns beautifully with our mission: Guided by a mindset of holistic development, student-athletes grow in confidence, set ambitious but achievable goals, and learn habits of excellence that prepare them for college, career, and life. Francisco’s ability to build culture, elevate players of all levels, and nurture a deep sense of pride in representing the Eagles makes him an exceptional addition to our community.”
Montoya will lead the program as it enters into a new era in the footsteps of the sustained excellence under Coach Metropolis, including back-to-back state championships in his final two seasons. With a proven record of developing athletes, mentoring coaches, and fostering community-centered programs, Montoya steps into the role prepared to build on the team’s success while shaping the next generation of Eagles tennis.
"After having been involved in the development of many Prep students [in tennis] for the past two decades outside of the School," says Coach Montoya, "it is an honor to officially become a part of the culture of building better people, inside and out.”
St. John’s Prep will host introductory meetings with student-athletes and families in the coming weeks as preparations begin for the 2026 season.