The Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) is very much open to having Eric Cray as one of its coaches following his more than a decade of service to the national team.

Patafa secretary general Jasper Tanhueco said nothing significant has been discussed but if the 37-year-old hurdler will formally apply for a coaching role, they will definitely welcome him, knowing that he can help develop the next breed of outstanding athletes.

The national athletics team came up with a solid performance in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games recently, finishing with five gold, seven silver and 19 bronze medals to underscore one of its most productive participations in recent memory.

Ernest John Obiena emerged as the best-performing athlete as he crushed the SEA Games record in men’s pole vault anew while young stars like Hockett Delos Santos, John Cabang, Naomi Cesar and Hussein Loraña all delivered gold medals to reflect the bright future of the Filipino tracksters.

Tanhueco said Cray definitely wants to play a crucial role in their development.

“He has yet to say anything about coaching yet but he would like to help the next generation of athletes,” Tanhueco told DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview.

“We are open if he wants to coach.”

The Texas-raised hurdler has been one of the most consistent athletes in the national team program, starting with his first ever participation in the Asian Athletics Championships in India in 2013.

Since then, he netted eight SEA Games gold medals and an Asian title while seeing action in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics via universality place, where he reached the semifinals and finished seventh with 49.17 seconds in the men’s 400-meter hurdles.

He also holds the national record in the men’s 400m hurdles of 48.98 seconds at the Meeting de Atletismo Madrid in Spain in 2016.

In a social media post after getting dethroned in his pet event, the 400m hurdles, by Calvin Quek of Singapore, Cray expressed willingness to enter the next phase of his career.

“First team July 6, 2013 Asian Athletics Championships India. Last team December 15, 2025 SEA Games Thailand. I gave everything and more I’m out,” Cray posted on social media.

“Coach Cray checking in now.”