Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya will step down at the end of the 2025 National Womens Soccer League (NWSL) season, the club announced Monday.
Kay Cossington, who serves as CEO of multi-club womens football group Bay Collective, will step into a sporting role at Bay FC and lead its search for the next manager.
Bay FC has lost its last four games and is currently winless in its last eight. They are the only NWSL team to go this long without a victory since the summer break. They sit 12th in the league table, two places above last.
Thanks to Albertin and the sporting staffs efforts, Bay FC has established a strong foundation on the pitch and Im excited to help elevate the club further and put Bay FC in the best position to compete at the highest level for years to come, Cossington said in the clubs press release.
Bay FC hired Montoya on Sep. 17, 2023 as head coach ahead of its inaugural season. Before that, he served as interim head coach at the Washington Spirit. Last season, Bay FC became the second expansion side in NWSL history to reach the playoffs in its first year in the league. (They lost to the Washington Spirit on penalties in the quarter finals.)
This season, however, has seen notable turbulence on and off the pitch for the Bay Area club.
On March 7, the San Francisco Chronicle published an investigation into allegations from former players and staff members of a toxic coaching environment that placed Montoya at the center. The reported claims led the NWSL to conduct a formal investigation that concluded in June. The league found no violations of its Policy to Prevent and Eliminate Workplace Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying, but maintained in its findings that its inquiry revealed shortcomings in Montoyas communication style.
Notable departures from Bay FC began last season and continued into this one, particularly among the clubs marquee signings, many of whom were international players. Mexican forward Scarlett Camberos transferred to Club América last July, and Canadian goalkeeper Lisanne Proulx, who started in Bays first match, moved to Juventus the following month.
In January, forward Deyna Castellanos, who represents Venezuela, agreed with Bay to become a free agent; she now plays for the Portland Thorns. Bay FC mutually parted ways with Ghanaian forward Princess Marfo this summer, and most recently agreed to transfer six-time CAF Womens Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala, of Nigeria, to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal last week.
Montoyas name has been synonymous with Bay Area girls and womens soccer for decades at the youth, collegiate, and professional levels, including the FC Gold Pride of the now-shuttered Womens Professional Soccer (WPS) League. In 2010, the Gold Pride won the WPS championship.
I have so much love for these players, staff, and fans, Montoya said in the clubs press release. Weve built a culture and a style of play that I believe will compete for championships for years to come. I want to thank everyone at the Bay FC organization for their support. I look forward to finishing this season strong and for this club continuing to accomplish great things.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Bay FC, NWSL, Women’s Soccer
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