FEU head coach Nash Racela gives instructions to his players during a game against University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 78. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
There are coaches who can reach out to their players on a personal level, be it becoming a father-figure, taking interest in their players’ hobbies, or just basically hanging out with the team.
Nash Racela, the head coach of Far Eastern University, is all of the above.
“As a father to them may pagka-stalker ako sa social media. Itong generation na ito puro social media,” said Racela in an episode of SportsIQ, which airs every Thursday on INQUIRER.net and Radyo Inquirer. “I follow most of them and nakikita ko kung kailan anniversary nila.”
Racela’s social media stalking may be unorthodox but he has changed the culture of FEU for the better and he steered the Tamaraws to its first UAAP title in 10 years.
“It helps me as a coach because naiintindihan ko sila pag may nangyayari sa kanila, sometimes nako-connect ko sa basketball parang ‘ah, ganito siya because he’s going through this thing,” said Racela. “That’s part of being a coach.”
Racela’s relationship with his players may be an open book, but there is still something that his youngsters won’t talk about with their coach.
“Nahihiya sa akin pag lovelife,” said Racela laughing./rga