Shaq de los Santos, the coach who steered the UST Golden Tigresses to their last championship in Season 72, will rejoin the team’s coaching staff for Season 86.
De los Santos began training the team’s middle blockers in October last year.
“Ngayong season, isa ako sa mga tutulong sa team and sobrang happy ako kasi nakabalik ulit ako sa UST,” De los Santos told the Varsitarian. “Nakakamiss makapagturo ulit sa collegiate level kasi alam ko na sobrang mai-improve pa ‘tong mga bata. Ang tagal kong nawala sa UST pero laging open arms ang community para tanggapin ako.”
After his UST stint, De los Santos went back to his alma mater to coach the FEU Lady Tamaraws from 2011 to 2017, pacing the team to three Final Four appearances from Season 77 to Season 80.
He was also appointed as head coach of the national women’s volleyball team, replacing Ramil de Jesus in 2018. Last season, he returned to the collegiate level to coach the UP Fighting Maroons, but his stay was short-lived.
Currently, he is the head coach of the Cignal HD Spikers in the Premier Volleyball League.
“More on support lang ako kila Coach Kung Fu, as a seasonal coach. Ang focus ko talaga is ‘yong mga middle blockers, ako nang bahala doon kung paano namin sila i-improve.”
De los Santos was part of the UST coaching staff for almost eight years. He left the team in Season 73, the same year the Golden Tigresses lost the championship match against the De La Salle University Lady Spikers.
De los Santos isn’t the only former UAAP coach on the UST coaching staff. In 2022, former Adamson Lady Falcons head coach Lerma Giron joined UST’s coaching staff to take charge of the liberos and the girls’ volleyball program.
Assistant coach Yani Hernandez, trainers Rico De Guzman and Roberto Boto, strength and conditioning coach Kevin Villegas and physical therapist Alyssa Tomas also comprise the Golden Tigresses’ Season 86 coaching staff.
