(FEB. 7)— Asst. Prof. Francis Carlos B. Diaz, a UP Varsity Softball Team (UPVST) coach, was appointed as the new College of Human Kinetics (CHK) dean.

He will serve as dean until Feb. 3, 2022.

Diaz earned his MS in Physical Education (PE) in 1997 and a bachelor’s degree in PE in 1989 at UPD. He joined the CHK faculty in 1991 and became the UPVST’s head coach in 2003.

He served as CHK’s Varsity Sports Office program director from 2000-2004 and in 2012, he was appointed by the College as program chairman for PE.

During the UAAP Season 78 in 2015 where UP served as host, he was assigned as the tournament manager. 

For his 23 years as UPVST coach, Diaz received the Distinguished Service Award in May 2016 during the UP Varsity Recognition Night (SY 2015-2016).

Diaz also shares his expertise in sport pedagogy, health and wellness through paper presentation locally and internationally.

Some of his papers were: “Anthropometric Profile of the University of the Philippines Table Tennis Athletes: Basis in Designing Comprehensive Intervention Program” (with Assoc. Prof. Oscar Yoshihiro Santelices as co-author) held in Duseldorf, Germany from May 27-28, 2017; “Anthropometric Profile & Performance of Elite Women Softball Players” and “Pre-Competition Hydration Status, Diet & Beverage Intake of Collegiate Softball Players” (with Marla Mallari-Cuerdo as co-author) at the Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand from Jun. 14-16, 2017; and “Relationship Between Perceived Coaching Behavior and Intrinsic Motivation in Filipino College Athletes” (with Jonathan Cagas, Pio Niño Opinaldo and Bea Morales as co-authors) at the 2016 International Conference on Sport Pedagogy, Health and Wellness) held at UPD on Nov. 20, 2016.—Haidee C. Pineda, image courtesy of UP CHK