[1] Montoya played for North Carolina State for his first three college seasons, earning Atlantic Coast Conference First Team selections in 1994 and 1995.

[3][4] In 1995, Montoya started his playing career with the San Francisco United All Blacks in the 1995 USISL Premier League season.

[7] In his second Clash season he made his first MLS appearance, though he suffered a serious knee injury in the match which effectively ended his career, taking three years of recovery and multiple surgeries.

[8][9] Montoya featured for multiple United States youth national teams, earning call ups at the U17, U20, and U23 levels.

He had one appearance in the tournament, starting and scoring in a 3–1 win over China in the United States' final group stage match.

In 2003, he gained his introduction to professional women's soccer as an assistant trainer with the San Jose CyberRays of the WUSA, in the league's final season.