UP coaching change: Who is Rey Madrid?
Rey Madrid is not yet officially the new UP Fighting Maroons head coach.
This was the clarification made by UP College of Human Kinetics dean Ronnie Dizer in reaction to Madrid's running the team's practice Sunday afternoon following Ricky Dandan's supposed dismissal.
"That was a miscommunication," said Dizer in a telephone conversation with Yahoo! Sports. "If they will have practice today then I will be the one to run it."
Dizer said only CHK in conjunction with UP Diliman Chancellor Cesar Saloma can hire and fire a head coach. In line with this, the dean revealed that Dandan officially submitted his resignation letter early Monday as head coach of the UP men's basketball team.
Dizer, however, also revealed that Dandan will remain with the university's basketball program and serve in another capacity. "In recognition of his expertise, he (Dandan) will help out with the technical aspects of the program."
As to who will coach the Maroons on Wednesday, Dizer said that if Madrid's appointment papers will be approved in time, then he will call the shots.
"Kung aabot by Wednesday, then Rey will coach the team." Monday was a holiday in Quezon City, leaving only Tuesday as the only day the appointment papers can be approved.
RELATED: Dandan out as Maroons coach; Madrid steps in
If ever his appointment pushes through, this will actually be the second tour of duty for Madrid, an architecture graduate of the state university and owner of a highly successful architecture firm.
Madrid was a second-string forward on the UP team that won it all in 1986. He got into coaching as an assistant to Joe Lipa on the Philips Sardines team in the old Philippine Amateur Basketball League. He was appointed head coach of UP in 1989, succeeding Mon Bernabe, and piloted the Maroons to an 8-6 record and fourth-place finish in his first year. The team slipped to 4-10 in 1990 before going 6-8 in 1991, 5-9 in 1992 and a dismal 2-12 in 1993.
After that horrible final season, Madrid resigned and became a full-time architect. He returned to the UP basketball program in 2011, ironically brought onboard by his old teammate Dandan as one of the team managers.
Among the players that Madrid coached during his first stint with UP were Meralco Bolts coach Ryan Gregorio, Ateneo Blue Eagles coach Bo Perasol, National University women's coach Patrick Aquino, former PBA cager Poch Juinio, NU assistant coach Joey Guanio, former national player Paul Du, and former UP coach Lito Vergara.
