RANDY ABLEMAN - UM HEAD DIVING COACH
Randy Ableman is entering into his illustrious 20th season at the helm of the University of Miami diving program. Since joining the Hurricanes coaching staff in the spring of 1989, Ableman has developed the Hurricanes diving team into one of the nation's premier programs, while making his mark as one of the nation's most respected diving authorities on the collegiate and national level, respectively. Ableman is a nine-time NCAA Diving Coach of the Year, earning the national honor six (6) consecutive years from 1995-2000 and was named the Big East Conference's Men's Diving Coach of the Year in 2000, 2002 and 2003. Alongside that, he was selected as the Women's Coach of the Year four consecutive times from 2000-2003.
In 2002, Ableman was honored by U.S. Diving as he was awarded the Phil Boggs Award, presented annually to honor those who have achieved individual excellence in diving and have given back a part of themselves to assure the sport's continuation and success. In now his 20 seasons at the University of Miami, Ableman has coached 12 National Champions to a NCAA-record 23 individual national titles, including four-time NCAA Champions Dean Panaro, Rio Ramirez and Tyce Routson. Recently added to his list of national awardees are juniors Brittany Viola and Reuben Ross who each collected individual titles in 2008.
From 1991-2002, in one of the most impressive streaks in NCAA diving history, the Miami men's and women's diving teams combined for 20 individual NCAA Championships. During which time, the Hurricanes won at least one national title for 12 consecutive seasons, naming at least two NCAA Champions in six seasons.
Miami swept the field at the 1997 Men's NCAA Championship, winning the 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform and in 1996 the Hurricanes placed first, second and third in both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform. Ableman led the Hurricanes to another NCAA record in 1996 with the trio of Tyce Routson, Brian Gillooly and Chris Mantilla becoming the first freshman in NCAA history to sweep the 10-meter platform at the NCAA Championships.
Under Ableman's guidance, 24 Hurricanes have garnered All-America honors with at least one (1) UM diver earning All-America status every year since 1989. In 1995, the Hurricanes became the first school in NCAA history to have five divers - Jose Gil, Brian Ramos, Chris Mantilla, Brian Gillooly and Tyce Routson - earn All-America honors in the same year. Needless to say, national title holders Viola and Ross were added to the long list of All-Americans coached under Ableman in 2008. Hurricane divers have also excelled on the Olympic level during Ableman's tenure, with a total of 11 divers, representing seven different countries, competing at the Olympic Games since 1992, including U.S. Diving Team member and former Hurricane Kyle Prandi. In 2004, Ableman made his third trip to the Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. Olympic Diving Team coaching staff. He also served on the 1996 and 2000 Olympic teams and in the summer of 2003, Ableman served as the U.S. Pan Am Games head coach. But, more recently, Ableman served as head coach of the diving team for the Republic of South Africa and coached two more Hurricanes in Summer Olympic Games. Current diver Jenna Dreyer (South Africa) made her second trip to the Olympic Games to represent her home country under the guidance of Ableman in 2008 in Beijing, China. Also participating for the Hurricanes as a member of a national team was Dreyer's teammate Reuben Ross--representing his home country of Canada. Dreyer was also a member of the South African national team in 2004 during the Olympic Game sin Athens, Greece.
Ableman came to Miami in 1989 after a five-year stint as the head diving coach at the University of South Carolina from 1985-1989 and a one-year stay as the head coach at Wright State in 1984. A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ableman graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Education in 1983. A four-time All-American diver at Iowa, Ableman was the 1981 NCAA Champion in the 1-meter springboard and still to this day holds the Hawkeyes school record in the 3-meter springboard. Ableman was inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 1980, Ableman was named to the U.S. Olympic Diving Team, but was forced to miss the 1980-Moscow games due to an American boycott. From 1978-1984, he was a member of the U.S. National Team. He is married to the former Karen Gorham, who was the 1980 U.S. Indoor champion in the 1-meter springboard.
In 2002, Ableman was honored by U.S. Diving as he was awarded the Phil Boggs Award, presented annually to honor those who have achieved individual excellence in diving and have given back a part of themselves to assure the sport's continuation and success. In now his 20 seasons at the University of Miami, Ableman has coached 12 National Champions to a NCAA-record 23 individual national titles, including four-time NCAA Champions Dean Panaro, Rio Ramirez and Tyce Routson. Recently added to his list of national awardees are juniors Brittany Viola and Reuben Ross who each collected individual titles in 2008.
From 1991-2002, in one of the most impressive streaks in NCAA diving history, the Miami men's and women's diving teams combined for 20 individual NCAA Championships. During which time, the Hurricanes won at least one national title for 12 consecutive seasons, naming at least two NCAA Champions in six seasons.
Miami swept the field at the 1997 Men's NCAA Championship, winning the 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform and in 1996 the Hurricanes placed first, second and third in both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform. Ableman led the Hurricanes to another NCAA record in 1996 with the trio of Tyce Routson, Brian Gillooly and Chris Mantilla becoming the first freshman in NCAA history to sweep the 10-meter platform at the NCAA Championships.
Under Ableman's guidance, 24 Hurricanes have garnered All-America honors with at least one (1) UM diver earning All-America status every year since 1989. In 1995, the Hurricanes became the first school in NCAA history to have five divers - Jose Gil, Brian Ramos, Chris Mantilla, Brian Gillooly and Tyce Routson - earn All-America honors in the same year. Needless to say, national title holders Viola and Ross were added to the long list of All-Americans coached under Ableman in 2008. Hurricane divers have also excelled on the Olympic level during Ableman's tenure, with a total of 11 divers, representing seven different countries, competing at the Olympic Games since 1992, including U.S. Diving Team member and former Hurricane Kyle Prandi. In 2004, Ableman made his third trip to the Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. Olympic Diving Team coaching staff. He also served on the 1996 and 2000 Olympic teams and in the summer of 2003, Ableman served as the U.S. Pan Am Games head coach. But, more recently, Ableman served as head coach of the diving team for the Republic of South Africa and coached two more Hurricanes in Summer Olympic Games. Current diver Jenna Dreyer (South Africa) made her second trip to the Olympic Games to represent her home country under the guidance of Ableman in 2008 in Beijing, China. Also participating for the Hurricanes as a member of a national team was Dreyer's teammate Reuben Ross--representing his home country of Canada. Dreyer was also a member of the South African national team in 2004 during the Olympic Game sin Athens, Greece.
Ableman came to Miami in 1989 after a five-year stint as the head diving coach at the University of South Carolina from 1985-1989 and a one-year stay as the head coach at Wright State in 1984. A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ableman graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Education in 1983. A four-time All-American diver at Iowa, Ableman was the 1981 NCAA Champion in the 1-meter springboard and still to this day holds the Hawkeyes school record in the 3-meter springboard. Ableman was inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
In 1980, Ableman was named to the U.S. Olympic Diving Team, but was forced to miss the 1980-Moscow games due to an American boycott. From 1978-1984, he was a member of the U.S. National Team. He is married to the former Karen Gorham, who was the 1980 U.S. Indoor champion in the 1-meter springboard.
CHRISTIE SHEFCHUNAS
A well-respected coach and top recruiter in the national collegiate swimming circuit, Christie Shefchunas begins her third season as the head coach for the University of Miami swimming program. Shefchunas is charged with bringing the UM swimming program back to national prominence. Shefchunas was hired on May 19, 2006 by then Athletic Director Paul Dee. Her job, simply to redefine the Hurricanes swimming program alongside a diving program that is annually considered one of the nation's best. In just two seasons she has already left her mark on a program that certainly seems to be heading in the right direction.
In her first season (2006-07), Shefchunas earned wins over Western Kentucky, Tampa and local opponent Florida International twice while the Hurricanes finished with just a 4-5 overall record. She would lead the squad to a seventh place finish at the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, followed by a19th place finish at the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Those numbers drastically changed in 2007-08 as the level of student-athlete increased, as well as the talent Shefchunas put so much effort into recruiting during the off-season. The Hurricanes finished 8-3 in dual meets. Though managing just a 10th place finish in the ACC Championships in 2008, Shefchunas knows she has a talent-loaded team that is expected to be even better in 2008-09.
Shefchunas came to UM as a well-respected coach. She arrived from Southern Methodist University where she served as an assistant coach for the Mustangs and lead recruiter. During her tenure at SMU, Shefchunas and the Mustangs swimming program finished in the top eight at the NCAA Championships on three occasions from 2003-05, as well as earning WAC Conference (2004-05) and Conference USA (2006) Championships. While there, she assisted in the coaching and development of 22 All-America performers, 33 conference champions and 26 NCAA qualifiers. In her role as lead recruiter for SMU, Shefchunas was instrumental in bringing in 11 student-athletes that earned All-America honors while 20 went on to win conference titles.
Prior to her stint at SMU, she was an assistant coach at Michigan State University in East Lansing. She served in that capacity from 2000-02 where she was in charge of the men's and women's sprint teams. Shefchunas also served as the Capital Area assistant coach in the summer of 2001 and '02. Prior to MSU, she directed the Chartiers Valley Swim Club in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania for nearly two years after serving for a short time as assistant swim coach at the club.
Christie Shefchunas is a 1997 graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. While swimming for the Lady Vols program, Shefchunas was tabbed as a four-time All-American while also serving as a team captain during both her junior and senior seasons. Shefchunas and her teammates still hold numerous Top 10 relay times (200 free, 400 free) for the Lady Vols.
In her first season (2006-07), Shefchunas earned wins over Western Kentucky, Tampa and local opponent Florida International twice while the Hurricanes finished with just a 4-5 overall record. She would lead the squad to a seventh place finish at the 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, followed by a19th place finish at the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Those numbers drastically changed in 2007-08 as the level of student-athlete increased, as well as the talent Shefchunas put so much effort into recruiting during the off-season. The Hurricanes finished 8-3 in dual meets. Though managing just a 10th place finish in the ACC Championships in 2008, Shefchunas knows she has a talent-loaded team that is expected to be even better in 2008-09.
Shefchunas came to UM as a well-respected coach. She arrived from Southern Methodist University where she served as an assistant coach for the Mustangs and lead recruiter. During her tenure at SMU, Shefchunas and the Mustangs swimming program finished in the top eight at the NCAA Championships on three occasions from 2003-05, as well as earning WAC Conference (2004-05) and Conference USA (2006) Championships. While there, she assisted in the coaching and development of 22 All-America performers, 33 conference champions and 26 NCAA qualifiers. In her role as lead recruiter for SMU, Shefchunas was instrumental in bringing in 11 student-athletes that earned All-America honors while 20 went on to win conference titles.
Prior to her stint at SMU, she was an assistant coach at Michigan State University in East Lansing. She served in that capacity from 2000-02 where she was in charge of the men's and women's sprint teams. Shefchunas also served as the Capital Area assistant coach in the summer of 2001 and '02. Prior to MSU, she directed the Chartiers Valley Swim Club in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania for nearly two years after serving for a short time as assistant swim coach at the club.
Christie Shefchunas is a 1997 graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. While swimming for the Lady Vols program, Shefchunas was tabbed as a four-time All-American while also serving as a team captain during both her junior and senior seasons. Shefchunas and her teammates still hold numerous Top 10 relay times (200 free, 400 free) for the Lady Vols.
JENNIFER POWELL
Jennifer Powell is from the island of Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, where she began swimming at the age of 3. Jennifer swam competitively from the age of 5 straight through her college years where she competed for the University of Miami. Jennifer made the Junior National team of the Cayman Islands at the age of 11 and the National team at the age of 14 where she competed in the Central American Games in El Salvador. Over the next 5 years she represented her country at the CARIFTA, CCCAN, and CAC Games, as well as the XVIII Commonwealth Games, setting 3 National records that still remain today. Jennifer graduated from the University of Miami in 2009, majoring in Sport and Business Administration.
Out of swimming season, Jennifer has taught swimming lessons since she was 13 years old. Having participated in multiple swimming workshops herself, she believes that every individual requires a different approach in order to learn how to swim as well as drastically improve their technique in swimming. She has competed in over 50 open-water swims and has developed different techniques than her usual lap swimming techniques to be faster and more efficient in the ocean and enjoys teaching these skills to tri-athletes looking to improve the swim portion of their event.
Jennifer’s Favorites:
Motto: "Patience truly is a virtue, take your time and you will be successful!"
Type of Lesson: Great listeners who are excited to learn and trust her abilities.
Pastimes: Running, swimming, traveling and going to the beach.
Feeling: Watching her student’s progress and surpassing their goals!
Out of swimming season, Jennifer has taught swimming lessons since she was 13 years old. Having participated in multiple swimming workshops herself, she believes that every individual requires a different approach in order to learn how to swim as well as drastically improve their technique in swimming. She has competed in over 50 open-water swims and has developed different techniques than her usual lap swimming techniques to be faster and more efficient in the ocean and enjoys teaching these skills to tri-athletes looking to improve the swim portion of their event.
Jennifer’s Favorites:
Motto: "Patience truly is a virtue, take your time and you will be successful!"
Type of Lesson: Great listeners who are excited to learn and trust her abilities.
Pastimes: Running, swimming, traveling and going to the beach.
Feeling: Watching her student’s progress and surpassing their goals!
KATIE ECKERT
Katie Eckert is originally from Winter Park, Florida. She attended the University of Florida, where she first became involved in aquatics and attained her Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certification and helped to run an Adapted Aquatics program for local children with special needs. As a freshman in college, she had the opportunity to become involved with the Infant Swimming Resource program. She trained as an instructor in 2002 and began teaching in the Orlando area in the summers off from school. Katie saw the impact that ISR lessons have on the children who take them and how the students gained confidence in themselves and also gained the skills to save themselves if they fell in the water alone.
After graduating from UF, she wanted to continue to offer ISR aquatic survival lessons. She found that Miami-Dade and Broward Country lead the country in drowning deaths for children under the age of 4 years and that there were no ISR instructors in the area; so she decided to move to bring the program to South Florida in 2004. Since then, Katie has taught hundreds of students from Boynton Beach to Homestead. She achieved Master Instructor status in 2006, enabling her to train ISR Instructors so that more children in the South Florida community can have the opportunity to receive these life saving lessons. In 2009, Katie met Randy and he asked her to joint the Hurricane Aquatics team to make ISR lessons available at the University of Miami pool. She loves the opportunity to work with Hurricane Aquatics to reach out to more families and teach these aquatic survival skills to the children of Miami, establishing a foundation for a lifetime of swimming and enjoying the water.
Katie’s Favorites:
Motto: "Be the change that you want to see in the world" -Gandhi
Type of Lesson: Building competence and confidence by teaching babies and young children aquatic self rescue skills.
Pastimes: running (marathon training) and working out, playing outside (kickball, softball, and football), watching sports, reading, and spending time with my favorite people.
Feeling: The overwhelming excitement that you feel when a child is able to swim, turn over to float and breathe. The peace of mind that the parents feel knowing that they can protect themselves in an emergency. And the true joy of watching a child smile and ask to swim "one more time," because they are having so much fun!
After graduating from UF, she wanted to continue to offer ISR aquatic survival lessons. She found that Miami-Dade and Broward Country lead the country in drowning deaths for children under the age of 4 years and that there were no ISR instructors in the area; so she decided to move to bring the program to South Florida in 2004. Since then, Katie has taught hundreds of students from Boynton Beach to Homestead. She achieved Master Instructor status in 2006, enabling her to train ISR Instructors so that more children in the South Florida community can have the opportunity to receive these life saving lessons. In 2009, Katie met Randy and he asked her to joint the Hurricane Aquatics team to make ISR lessons available at the University of Miami pool. She loves the opportunity to work with Hurricane Aquatics to reach out to more families and teach these aquatic survival skills to the children of Miami, establishing a foundation for a lifetime of swimming and enjoying the water.
Katie’s Favorites:
Motto: "Be the change that you want to see in the world" -Gandhi
Type of Lesson: Building competence and confidence by teaching babies and young children aquatic self rescue skills.
Pastimes: running (marathon training) and working out, playing outside (kickball, softball, and football), watching sports, reading, and spending time with my favorite people.
Feeling: The overwhelming excitement that you feel when a child is able to swim, turn over to float and breathe. The peace of mind that the parents feel knowing that they can protect themselves in an emergency. And the true joy of watching a child smile and ask to swim "one more time," because they are having so much fun!
