Jim Montgomery and Bill Belichick only overlapped for a little over a year in Boston’s fraternity of pro sports coaches.
But Montgomery reached out to the Patriots’ coach especially last year when he was trying to manage the Bruins’ record-setting team and found the future Hall of Famer very open and helpful.
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After the news emerged Thursday morning that Belichick and the Patriots had agreed to part amicably, Montgomery opened his media availability by taking about him.
“I want to start by congratulating Bill Belichick on a tremendous 24-year run with the New England Patriots that has never been seen before in the NFL. How he has impacted coaches. I know he’s impacted a lot of football coaches, but I think it goes across every sport,” he said. “You study other coaches and how they handle, players, the team and the differences between the motivational and the structure and the X’s and O’s so to speak. Obviously, he’s a master at all and someone I’m very lucky to have spent time with.”
Montgomery said he made good use of those interactions.
“I just asked a lot of questions just trying to soak in knowledge,” he said. “He was an open book and was great about it. About how he handles situations, players, role players, star players. Just picking his brain on matchups and how he thinks.”
Brad Marchand didn’t grow up in New England, but has been in the region for three of the Super Bowls and got caught up in the excitement.
“He’s one of the best coaches of all time. I was in Boston during their dominant run. It was a lot of fun to watch,” he said. “One of those legendary coaches, whose name will be down in history for all time.”
Charlie Coyle, who did grow up in Massachusetts, admitted he was emotional.
“What he’s done for the Pats organization and fans like me and beyond. It’s pretty remarkable stuff,” Coyle said. “Winning season after winning season after winning season. He brought us so much enjoyment and excitement. You hate to see that come to an end. He’s done so much of the people around here. You wish him well in whatever he does next. … But sad to see a guy like him move on. He’s done so much. …It feels like something happened to me and I’m just a fan.”
