When The Two Original Pillars Fall, Bay FC Enters a Leadership Shift

     Bay FC finds itself in a rare and defining moment as both its inaugural president and chief executive officer, Brady Stewart, and its founding head coach, Albertin Montoya, are set to leave their posts. The departures arrive as the latest chapter in a series of organizational changes that signal a reset for the young National Women’s Soccer League franchise and raise questions about its future direction on and off the pitch.

Stewart was the club’s first hire, brought in from Levi Strauss to build Bay FC from the ground up, and she quickly became the public face of its business identity. Under her guidance, the team launched its branding, secured corporate partnerships, and rooted itself in the Bay Area’s sports culture. Her departure is significant not only because of her title but because she symbolized the off-field infrastructure meant to sustain an ambitious expansion club. In her place, Russell Wolff, a seasoned executive with ESPN experience and ties to Sixth Street, Bay FC’s majority investor, has stepped in as interim president while the organization searches for long-term leadership.

Montoya’s exit carries equal weight on the sporting side. A Bay Area native and longtime coach with deep local ties, he was chosen to shepherd the franchise in its early years. His tenure has been marked by a blend of highs and controversy. Bay FC enjoyed a playoff appearance in its first campaign, a remarkable achievement for an expansion side, but this season’s struggles left the team near the bottom of the standings. Off the field, Montoya’s leadership came under scrutiny after internal complaints triggered an NWSL investigation. Though the independent review concluded there were no violations of league policy, it noted flaws in his communication style and management approach. Montoya later emphasized that his contract was never meant to be permanent and that he always envisioned passing the reins once the team had established itself.

The timing of both departures paints a larger picture of transformation. Bay FC is no stranger to turnover, having already seen its first general manager and chief operating officer move on within its opening seasons. While some of this can be expected in the life of a startup franchise, the simultaneous exits of the club’s two most visible leaders suggest a deliberate reset by ownership. Sixth Street has been increasingly hands-on, installing its own personnel into leadership roles and steering major projects, including the recently launched training facility development on Treasure Island. With that type of oversight, the change at the top feels less like upheaval and more like a calculated shift into a new phase of growth.

For the players and fans, the uncertainty lies in how this new chapter will shape the club’s culture. Stewart and Montoya represented the original vision, one rooted in local identity and the spirit of building something fresh for the Bay Area. Their successors will inherit not just titles but expectations. Continuity will be essential, not only to steady results on the field but to sustain the club’s credibility as it attempts to attract fans, sponsors, and elite players. Bay FC’s struggles in the standings only heighten the urgency, as poor results can quickly erode the goodwill of a new fan base.

Yet the story of Stewart and Montoya should not be remembered as one of failure. Both laid a foundation that was critical to Bay FC’s launch. Montoya delivered a competitive squad in record time and gave the club an early playoff berth to showcase its ambition. Stewart’s vision established Bay FC as more than just a team but as a brand woven into the Bay Area community. Their exits do not erase these achievements; rather, they mark the handoff to a new generation of leaders tasked with building on that groundwork.

Bay FC now faces the challenge of transformation while staying true to its roots. The departures of its first coach and its first president may appear daunting, but they also open the door for reinvention. The path forward will depend on how effectively the organization can balance stability with innovation, honoring the past while reimagining the future. In the end, this dual transition may be less about endings and more about giving Bay FC the chance to define itself all over again.