Black on his last season at Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines - Multi-titled coach Norman Black, who has steered Ateneo to the UAAP championship the last four years, will only be back on the saddle for one more season, making the Blue Eagles’ “drive for five” beginning July his swan song.

Black, according to Ateneo president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, will step down as Eagles coach at the end of Season 75 to “return to the PBA” but will serve as consultant of the university’s basketball program for two years thereafter.

“It is with regret that I inform the community that coach Norman Black, who we all know has been such an outstanding coach for the Ateneo Blue Eagles these last seven years, has indicated his desire to return to the PBA where he hopes to replicate his successful system. Having been at the PBA before, he is in a way coming full circle with this move,” Villarin announced via Ateneo’s official website yesterday.

“I am pleased, however, to tell you that coach Norman has agreed to Ateneo’s request that he coach the Blue Eagles for the 2012 season, and that he remain as consultant to the men’s basketball program for two years thereafter. Norman will be with us, therefore, for three more years, coaching the team for one more year and helping out as consultant in the two years after that,” the AdMU president added.

A grandslam champion coach in the PBA, Black joined Ateneo in 2004 as consultant and took over as head strategist the following year, piloting the team to a “four-peat” last season. He has compiled a 95-24 win-loss record since 2005 and will likely breach the 100-win mark in 2012 while aiming to finish his stint with a fifth straight diadem.

Ateneo’s announcement added fire to swirling talks that a rigodon of coaches among teams supported by Manny Pangilinan is in the offing. Black will reportedly be offered coaching chores for PBA team Talk n Text, of which he is a consultant, while current Tropang Texters tactician Chot Reyes will supposedly handle the Gilas 2 national team.

Both Black and Reyes are also in the shortlist of candidates for the Gilas program, along with Jong Uichico and Ryan Gregorio.

In line with Black’s impending exit, Villarin has formed a search committee headed by Edward Go and composed of Fr Nemesio Que, SJ, Ricky Vargas, Jack Huang, and Joey Campos to help him “discern and decide who the next head coach will be.” AdMU athletics director Ricky Palou will serve as adviser while Debbie Tan will be the secretary.

Among the possible candidates for the post that will be vacated by Black are alumnus Olsen Racela, and his current assistants Jamike Jarin and Sandy Arespacochaga.

In the meantime, Villarin said the Eagles remain focused on extending their reign under Black.

“We will not let our guard down and we will even work harder for that historic 5-peat,” Villarin said.