Marty Zeller leaving VHS for Australia; replacement hired

TOMÉ — It took less than 48 hours after Marty Zeller resigned to hire his replacement as girls’ basketball coach at Valencia High School.

2013 Belen High School graduate and former VHS and BHS assistant boys coach Raymond Montoya, 29, takes over the Jaguars’ program. “Being a head coach in this county has been one of the biggest goals I’ve had since graduating” from high school, Montoya said.

Montoya, who applied for the position when Zeller was originally hired, coached under Josh Maddox for three years at Valencia. “I’m really comfortable with the environment there.”

Even though Montoya has never been a head coach, he believes his style will reflect some of his mentors over the years, including Donald Marques at Belen. “It’s a fast, shooting style. Real exciting. It’s fun for the kids.” Montoya will start immediately.

“We believe coach Raymond Montoya possesses the qualities we are looking for to lead the VHS girls basketball program,” said Wilson Holland, Los Lunas Schools director of athletics. “He has a good basketball IQ, high energy and is a good communicator. He will bring discipline as well as development.”

Montoya, who is working on his college degree, is a supervisor at UPS, with his shift ending at 9 a.m.

“It’s me and my dog, living at home. And living in the gym,” Montoya explained.

Zeller resigned at Valencia less than four weeks before the start of practice, never coaching a game for the Jaguars after being hired in May.

Zeller said he may have a chance in January to coach his daughter Teige, who plays professionally in Australia. Either way, Zeller said “The plan is to go to Australia in January—and I didn’t want to leave the VHS girls in the middle of the season.”

Teige was a standout player for Los Lunas High School, helping her father during a run of five state titles in nine years for the Tigers. Marty Zeller left LLHS just before the 2021 season and was hired for the VHS position after Mecaela Medina stepped down.

Zeller said he is thankful for the opportunity to coach at VHS. Zeller will continue to teach at Valencia until further notice.