National University (NU) head coach Regine Diego entered the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament at the time when the program was undergoing a major shift. 

For years, the Lady Bulldogs thrived under systems built by different coaches, yet sustained their reputation as one of the most disciplined and formidable squads in the local collegiate ranks.

But as the new coaching cycle began, Diego walked into a roster adjusting to changes, rebuilding its chemistry, and learning to trust a new voice.

Her return to coaching came after she took a rare break from the high-pressure environment she had long operated in since her playing days at De La Salle University, where she won four UAAP titles from 2006 to 2009.

It was a step back that allowed her to rediscover her place in volleyball while understanding the sport from a broader lens — not just as a coach but as a learner once again.

“Actually, I wanted to take a break but still work is where I need to grind. Hindi ako sanay na wala sa volleyball events here in the country,” the 36-year-old Diego said during her recent guesting at “Off the Court,” the weekly online sports show of DAILY TRIBUNE.

Taking that year away from major coaching roles didn’t pull her out of the volleyball world. Instead, it opened doors to experiences that would deepen her perspective. 

Rediscovering volleyball

She immersed herself in programs like the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s (PNVF) international events and Heroes Volleyball Program, opportunities that allowed her to study how the game grew globally and how it could welcome players beyond the competitive sphere.

“I was doing a lot of things with the PNVF so, I’m thankful na I get to work with a lot of international teams, international people in volleyball and I get to watch how it is to be in the international volleyball scene,” Diego said.

“I also worked with HVP or Heroes Volleyball League. It’s a camp because I understand now, I mean I learned from them that volleyball is for all — not just competitive volleyball but also fun games.”

In that period of breathing room, Diego found the clarity she didn’t know she needed. She began to detach from the obsession with winning and reconnected with the joy of growth — both her’s and her players’. 

That shift would become the core of her coaching identity.

“So, I learned a lot of things during that break and those things changed me and developed me as a different coach now because before I was so competitive,” Diego, a native of Lipa City in Batangas, said.

“But this time, I get to detach from the wins. So hopefully, those experiences made me a better coach and I hope that it gets to be reflected in our games in the future.”

Yet, beneath the composed maturity she now carries, the fire remains. Volleyball has always been her first love, and the desire to compete — the hunger to face the best — is something she never lost.

“Oh, I think it’s a competition. I’m a very competitive person and nobody can take that away from me, but I have to experience a lot of things before I understand that the competition is this and not that. So yeah, I’m always going to be competitive and I’m always going to play because volleyball is my first love.”

Those words encapsulate her duality: Calm yet fierce, grounded yet driven, composed yet burning with ambition. It is this balance that now defines the Lady Bulldogs’ direction under her watch.

New era

Being the head coach of the most successful volleyball programs in UAAP is already a challenge in itself.

But doing it after NU won the title and saw former mentor Sherwin Meneses and stars Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring after their championship run? Well, only a few coaches can step up to the task.

Luckily, Diego passed her baptism of fire as she led the Lady Bulldogs to a fourth straight Shakey’s Super League Pre-season Unity Cup title after sweeping collegiate powerhouse University of Santo Tomas in a best-of-three finals series last 15 November.

The foundation she intends to build is not one that replaces the past, but one that honors it while crafting a new identity. The traditions left behind by former leaders remain part of the team’s DNA, but the next generation must now step forward — battle-tested or not.

“I hope and we wish that you get to believe in us and trust in us still even without Bella, Erin, Sheena, Ally because these girls are going to give their all their hearts, everything that they have in order for you to be proud of them,” Diego said.

She added that if there’s any team she is raring to face, it would be her alma mater La Salle and her former coach Ramil de Jesus. 

After all, Diego served as an assistant coach for De Jesus in F2 Logistics in the Premier Volleyball League before getting promoted as head coach in 2023.

“I want to show Coach Ramil that I can coach and that I deserve a chance to go up against him. And I’m happy that I get to do it (in the coming UAAP),” Diego said.

As the Lady Bulldogs carve their path into the new season, they carry with them a coach who understands what it means to grow, what it means to compete, and what it means to lead with purpose. 

And they continue moving with the confidence that whatever lies ahead — every match, every challenge, every moment of doubt — they will face it together.

In the end, that is the story of Diego’s return. Not just a comeback, but a transformation. Not just a coach’s rise, but a team’s rebirth. And not just a battle for wins, but a pursuit of something far greater: A legacy shaped by resilience, growth, and the unwavering love for the game that brought them all here.