Herrera, Ableman Honored by Atlantic Coast Conference
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The University of Miami diving program had two individuals recognized Thursday, as sophomore Briadam Herrera was named ACC Men’s Diver of the Year and Randy Ableman was named ACC Men’s Diving Coach of the Year.
The nine individuals honored were determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Herrera picked up two All-America honors at the 2017 NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships last week, and was the national runner-up in the men’s 3-meter springboard event. One of the nation’s top young divers, Herrera finished with 477.30 points in the 3-meter finals at the IU Natatorium to cap another sparkling postseason run.
A four-time ACC gold medalist, Herrera was seeded first at the NCAA Championships in both the 3-meter and 1-meter, where he finished fifth to earn the fourth All-America honor of his career. A native of Havana, Cuba, Herrera earned a podium finish at every ACC Championship meet of his career. He also won both springboard events at Zone B qualifying in Auburn, Ala., to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships.
The Men’s Diving Coach of the Year honor is the second in the past three seasons for Ableman, now in his 28th year the helm of the diving program.
A nine-time NCAA Diving Coach of the Year, Ableman has guided 13 different divers to national championships in his illustrious career, including Miami redshirt freshman David Dinsmore, who captured the platform title at the 2017 NCAA Championships in Indianapolis.
Dinsmore and Herrera earned Miami 51 points to finish 21st in competition. Ableman also led the pair to four top-10 finishes at ACC Championships, where Dinsmore earned gold on platform and Herrera two silvers on springboard.
Ableman has served on the Team USA Olympic coaching staff for the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and was the head coach for South Africa at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. This past summer, he guided former Hurricane national champion Sam Dorman to an Olympic silver medal in the synchronized 3-meter springboard.
2017 ACC Swimming & Diving Awards
Men’s Swimmer of the Year – Ryan Held, NC State
Men’s Diver of the Year – Briadam Herrera, Miami
Men’s Freshman of the Year – Coleman Stewart, NC State
Men’s Coach of the Year – Braden Holloway, NC State
Men’s Diving Coach of the Year – Randy Ableman, Miami
Women’s Swimmer of the Year – Mallory Comerford, Louisville
Women’s Diver of the Year – Molly Carlson, Florida State
Women’s Freshman of the Year – Ky-lee Perry, NC State
Women’s Coach of the Year – Braden Holloway, NC State
Women’s Diving Coach of the Year – John Proctor, Florida State
