There’s a new sheriff in town for Southwestern University’s (SWU) athletic program as current Cobras basketball team assistant coach Mike Reyes was named athletic director, replacing long-time head Ryan Aznar who stepped down from his position a few months ago.
For Reyes, who has had extensive experience serving as the chief lieutenant to SWU head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba apart from being the University of San Carlos’ (USC) basketball director and head coach a few years back, the new position is a new challenge that he is raring to take on. He didn’t have to wait too long as he immediately started on the job on Oct. 1.
Mike Reyes
“I’m still learning. I’ve been reading a lot. I’ve been a coach all my life but this job deals with a lot more, a much wider scope. You have administrative duties and all,” said Reyes in an exclusive chat with Cebu Daily News on Tuesday morning.
Reyes, who is the brother of former national team head coach Chot Reyes, said that the chief priority at the moment is figuring out how to get the basketball squad back on track after failing to defend the championship this year, mainly because of academic problems suffered by several of its key players.
“It all starts in the academics. We had a meeting with the teachers and they gave their commitment to helping the players with their schoolwork. But really, nasa basketball players ang problema kasi wala naman problema na ganito sa ibang teams. How can they be helped if hindi sila pumapasok? Paano sila matutulungan kung hindi sila magpapatulong?” shared Reyes.
The affable coach said that he will personally see to it that the players attend their classes. “For now, gagawin kong trabaho yan. I have all their schedules.”
At the moment, Reyes said that he is hard at work reviewing the athletic program’s vision, mission and goals to see if some improvements can be made.