Multi-titled Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin renewed his contract for three more years until UAAP Season 91 with the Blue Eagles.
Tab Baldwin has established himself as a pillar in Ateneo basketball, owing to his long tenure and success with the Blue Eagles in the UAAP.
After just one year of the team getting used to his system, Baldwin led the Blue Eagles to a three-peat from 2017 to 2019, a run that was capped by an immaculate run to the title in Season 82, going undefeated in 16 games.
Despite a more challenging recent stretch, including a historically-dismal performance in UAAP Season 87 where Ateneo ended up last with a 4-10 slate, Baldwin was renewed for three more years by the Blue Eagles.
With a more competitive lineup, Baldwin led his team to a victory on the day that his extension was announced.
[RELATED: Jared Bahay, Ateneo nip FEU in OT in thrilling start to UAAP Season 88 men's basketball]
For Baldwin, it was a confirmation of his work with Ateneo and the confidence of the people higher than him.
“It's not fun to be uncertain about your future, but we put all that to bed today. I can't express enough my gratitude to the Ateneo and to Boss [Manny V. Pangilinan] for the confidence in me, and not just me, Epoch Quimpo, who's very much a part of how our organization runs, and the entire coaching staff,” Baldwin said after Ateneo beat FEU, 86-83, in their UAAP Season 88 opener on Saturday.
“It's sort of a mini celebration for all of us to be validated with the offer of a job. As a coach, you're always grateful when you get a job offer. I was very excited to sit down and finalize this deal. Now, I just get busy looking forward to the future… It kind of feels like coming home without having left home. Ateneo is where I belong, and I'm delighted to be here.”
Baldwin’s choice
Because of the level of uncertainty clouding Baldwin’s future with Ateneo prior to his extension, the 67-year-old admitted that there was some part of him that looked at other opportunities.
But make no mistake about it, Baldwin wanted to stay at Ateneo with his whole heart.
Tab Baldwin renewed his contract with Ateneo for three more years and will be at the helm until UAAP Season 91. | Photo: The UAAP
For Baldwin, it was all about being able to continue to work in an environment that mirrored his own values and character not just as a coach, but also as a person.
“To be honest, when there's uncertainty around you, you know as a coach, you have to kind of dip your toe in the market and see what's out there and so, there were distractions, I'd say, for me. But at the end of the day, this is where I wanted to be, at the end of the day this a great offer to continue the work with the same people,” he said.
“You know, if I haven't said thank you to God, and thank you for the opportunity to continue to work at a Catholic university, and continue to work in an environment where we truly do reinforce values. We truly do believe, and I don't know how you can make an emphasis on the word truly, but we truly do believe in the concept of a student-athlete at Ateneo. I'm very privileged, very honored,” Baldwin continued.
At the end of the day, Baldwin said that he has seen much of his own growth in Ateneo — not just of his players.
Though touted as among the best coaches in the Philippines, Baldwin was more concerned with what the whole experience left behind in his person. Rather than counting the trophies, he was looking towards change for the better.
“I also know that over the last 10 years I've grown as a person, and now the opportunity to do the work that really we should be doing at our university is not just developing players, but developing people,” he said.
“Now, I'm a better person to be able to do that work, so I think that covers everything.”
Baldwin and the Ateneo Blue Eagles gun for a 2-0 start in UAAP Season 88 when they face the UE Red Warriors next on Wednesday, September 24, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.