Jesse Montalto will enter his fourth season as the head coach of the Iowa Central Community College Tritons. In his first two seasons, Montalto has helped bring the Triton football program back to national prominence. In his first season at the helm, the Tritons had the biggest turnaround in the NJCAA, winning eight games and finishing No. 13 in the final NJCAA rankings. The 2018 season concluded with a Graphic Edge Bowl Win and 18 players moving on to the Division 1 level, along with 25+ moving on to play at the D2/NAIA level.

In 2019. the Tritons regained the Kinney Cup with a 28-26 victory over Iowa Western. Montalto and the Tritons were also able to capture the Region XI title, win the Graphic Edge Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 18 in the NJCAA. Montalto was awarded ICCAC Coach of the Year along with his standout quarterback, Demarcus Irons, earned ICCAC Offensive Player of the Year. The 2019 Triton football team also finished with six All-Americans.

With the 2020 fall season shifted to spring 2021, Iowa Central again claimed a bowl victory, topping New Mexico Military to win the Graphic Edge Bowl. The Tritons finished the year ranked, going 6-3. Six players earned All-American status with six also making both the all-ICCAC and all-region teams. 

Montalto spent the previous four seasons as the head coach at Ellsworth Community College. During his tenure at ECC, Montalto helped the Panthers win four consecutive Graphic Edge Bowl games while knocking off at least two ranked opponents in each season. In 2015, Montalto helped lead the Panther offense to a Top-10 ranking while putting up over 5,000 yards. In his four years at ECC, Montalto coached eight All-Americans, over 30 Division I signees and over 30 Division 2/NAIA signees.

Before entering the junior college ranks, he spent nine seasons coaching at Division II Upper Iowa University. Montalto joined the UIU staff in 2005 to coach the wide receivers after finishing his playing career. During his two seasons coaching wide receivers, Montalto worked with multiple all-conference selections including Dwayne Croker. Croker led the Peacocks in 2006 with 1,023 yards and 66 receptions under the guidance of Montalto.

In 2007, Montalto was promoted to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and helped lead an offense that averaged close to 400 yards per game and 28 points per contest. In two seasons as coordinator, Montalto helped TC Hicks become the all-time leading rusher in school history, which included a 1,370-yard effort in the 2007 season. Montalto also coached Jay Lehman, who finished his career as the fourth all-time leading passer at Upper Iowa.

In 2009, Montalto moved his focus back to coaching quarterbacks, where he had the opportunity to coach multiple all-conference players including the first and third ranked career passing leaders in the Upper Iowa history books. Most recent quarterback, Cole Jaeschke, set one record after another before signing with the Carolina Panthers. In three years as a starter under Montalto's tutelage, Jaeschke threw for 8,364 yards (led the league with 2,983 as a sophomore), 62 career TD passes, and 655 completions, which are all first in school history.

Montalto graduated from Upper Iowa in 2004 as one of the most prolific receivers in school history where he was inducted into the Upper Iowa Hall of Fame in 2017. In his four-year career at Upper Iowa (2001-04), Montalto finished with 178 receptions for 2,621 yards, the second-best career totals in school history. He also ended with 22 career touchdowns, third-best all-time at UIU. Montalto was a first-team All-Independent Football Alliance wide receiver in 2004 after grabbing 59 receptions for 861 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Montalto and his wife, Marcie, have two children, Addison and Brady.

Coaching Career:

2014-2017: Ellsworth Community College Head Coach
2009-2013: Upper Iowa University Quarterbacks Coach
2007-2008: Upper Iowa University Offensive Coordinator
2005-2006: Upper Iowa University Wide Receivers Coach