The volleyball community expressed their condolences to legendary Far Eastern University coach Kid Santos' family and paid tribute to the mentor thru social media.

The Philippine volleyball community mourned the passing of one of the sports’ greatest pillars.

Legendary Far Eastern University volleyball coach Florentino ‘Kid’ Santos passed away Wednesday morning due to cardiac arrest, a complication of his long bout with diabetes.

He was 67.

The volleyball community expressed their condolences to Santos' family and paid tribute to the mentor thru social media.

Learned so much about handling athletes from Kidd Santos. Great coach, even better person and father to all FEU athletes. You will truly be missed. RIP Coach Kidd.

— Mark Molina (@marqmolina) November 8, 2017

My last picture with you Coach Kidd. You inspired and touched the lives of so many people, including me. Salamat sa lahat Coach Kidd RIP 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/oGnDirZChK

— Jerrili Malabanan (@jerrilivb33) November 8, 2017

Sad news for the volleyball community, Coach Kid Santos joined our Creator😢Not only a great mentor but a second father to many....

— Ivy Remulla (@ivyr_07) November 8, 2017

A father to me and to many.. one of the pillars of Ph Volleyball.. SALAMAT po sa lahat. RIP Coach Kid Santos 😔

— Princess Gaiser (@piagaiser) November 8, 2017

Santos served FEU for almost five decades as a player, coach and head of the school’s volleyball program.

He hammered FEU’s men’s and women’s teams into UAAP powerhouse squads and even handled the national squad various times. His last was in 2005 when the PHI’s won the bronze medal in the Manila Southeast Asian Games.   

Under his tutelage, the volleyball guru steered the Lady Tamaraws to 19 of their UAAP-best 29 titles.

He discovered, molded and trained numerous volleyball stars and mentored some of the country’s brightest volleyball coaches including Ramil De Jesus of De La Salle University, Nes Pamilar, Shaq delos Santos and current FEU women’s team tactician George Pascua.      

Pascua shared an anecdote on how Santos touched his life outside the volleyball court.

“Mabigat ang pagkawala ni coach Kid kasi parang tatay na namin yan,” he said.

His fondest memory of Santos was when he played matchmaker back when he and his wife Jennifer were in college.

“PE teacher namin ‘yan ni Jenny sa FEU at kami ang pinagpa-partner n’ya palagi,” Pascua recalled. “May reputation sya na lahat ng pinagpa-partner nya eh nagkakatuluyan. So mabigat para sa amin na mawala siya.”

But Santos will be best remembered by the people whose lives he touched as a loving father to FEU athletes and a PHI volleyball legend.