Expectations aren’t going to change for the Peoria High football program under newly hired coach Aaron Montgomery.

What's the plan under the leadership of the 2004 Peoria High graduate?

“To continue (with) the success we’ve had and even more," he said. "Continue (as a) perennial power. Continue (as a) perennial playoff team. Continue with that success — and then heighten it.”

What the administration is saying

Montgomery was named the new Peoria High head football coach Monday, becoming just the 12th man to hold the job since 1919. He enters his 10th season with the Lions after serving at the underclass level for six years and the last three as the varsity offensive line coach.

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With Tim Thornton resigning last month after 14 seasons for a job at Lely High School in Naples, Florida, Peoria High athletics director Brien Dunphy turned to one of the three internal candidates to direct a team that has seen 94 wins, a state championship and nine playoff appearances over the last decade-and-a-half.

“His work ethic and determination,” Dunphy said on stood out with Montgomery. “His report and relationship with the kids and our staff. He’s just outworked everybody.

“… Aaron’s going to have the luxury of having a huge foundation to build on and a returning staff that he’s best friends with. Tim didn’t have that luxury. Our expectations are very high. I know Aaron’s expectations are very high and building off of what coach Thornton created is going to be awfully fun to watch.”

What the coach is saying

And Montgomery, who plans to adopt the motto, "Change lives and win football games," will hit the ground running. But he knows plugging the hole left by Thornton won’t be easy.

“I do (have big shoes to fill), but it’s not something I run from," Montgomery said, “I don’t foresee it as a pressure. I don’t see it as a bad thing. I see it as a responsibility to kind of carry the torch of an amazing foundation going forward. … Ready for the challenge.”

Montgomery's preference is to not call it "pressure" when it comes to taking over a program for which he played from 2000-2003. The real pressure comes in the situations his players and coaches face in their daily lives, said Montgomery, while also trying to live up to the standards set by their families and the Peoria High community.

Instead, a new term will now be a part of the Lions vocabulary.

“I prefer the word ‘responsibility’,” the former Illinois Central College pitcher said. “I get to use a beautiful game of football to 1) provide an outlet for said ‘pressure’ and 2) an opportunity to potentially change situations that led to that pressure.”

What the players are saying

Regarding the program already in place, Montgomery is very familiar with the personnel. Sophomore offensive lineman JaQuarius Green along with a trio of juniors in wide receiver TQ Webb, defensive back Spencer Russell and linebacker Cam Peterson garnered 2023 all-Big 12 Conference honors and should be starting for the Pride of the City when the 2024 season opens at Peoria Stadium against Champaign Centennial on Aug. 30.

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Webb says he’s already had conversations with Montgomery about his senior year and has been hitting the weight room hard this offseason.

“I’m happy that coach Montgomery is the head coach,” the two-time Journal Star all-area wideout said. “I’m glad he got an opportunity, so now we go to work.”

What the team will look like

Many of the offensive and defensive coaches from Thornton’s staff will remain under Montgomery. The schemes will have different language and wrinkles, but the emphasis will be the same. Most of all, Thornton’s signature mantra of "Fast. Hard. Finish." isn’t going anywhere.

“There’s an immense foundation that I get to work from,” Montgomery said, “but now it’s my job to try and poke holes in everything and add and build upon those things. Strengthen every perceived weakness and even get better at perceived strengths, so again, now it’s my turn to nitpick upon the things sitting before us and I’m up for the challenge.

“I’m honored. I’m blessed and I’m champing at the bit to get going.”

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Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA football: What to expect from new Peoria High coach Aaron Montgomery