BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Running back Tevin Coleman and diver Jessica Parratto are Indiana’s 2015 Athletes of the Year, the Department of Athletics announced today.
A third round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons, Coleman became the program’s third unanimous consensus All-American in 2014, joining Anthony Thompson – 1989 and Vaughn Dunbar – 1991. He finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting, the best placing by a Hoosier since Antwaan Randle El’s sixth-place showing in 2001.
One of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, Coleman became the 18th player in FBS history to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a single season with his 130-yard effort in the team’s 23-16 Old Oaken Bucket victory over Purdue. He ranks 15th on the all-time list and tops the school’s list with 2,036 yards.
A first team All-Big Ten selection, Coleman (264 attempts) became the fourth-fastest rusher to reach 2,000 behind Melvin Gordon (241), Larry Johnson (251) and Mike Rozier (258), besting Barry Sanders (268). He is just the third Big Ten rusher to reach the milestone in the regular season, joining Gordon and Johnson (2002). Coleman’s 7.5 yards per carry is the fifth-highest among the 18 2,000-yard rushers.
The Tinley Park, Ill., native finished second nationally in rushing yards (2,036), rushing yards per game (169.7), all-purpose yards per game (181.4) and yards from scrimmage per game (181.4), third in yards from scrimmage (2,177), fifth in all-purpose yards (2,177) and rushing yards per carry (7.54), tied for 19th in rushing touchdowns (15) and tied for 25th in total touchdowns (15).
As a redshirt freshman, Parratto won the 2015 NCAA Champion in platform diving with a score of 367.00, nearly 30 points ahead of the runner up. That is the fifth-best platform diving score in IU history. Parratto also finished seventh on the 3-meter springboard at the NCAA meet.
She won the Big Ten title on the platform with a Big Ten-record score of 424.45, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. Parratto finished second on the 3-meter and fourth on the 1-meter at Big Tens.
In April, she punched her ticket to the 2015 FINA World Championships by winning the synchro platform with partner Amy Cozad at the USA Diving Synchro National Championships. Parratto added the individual platform to her schedule at the World Championships by finishing second at the USA Diving World Championship trials in May.
The Dover, N.H., native will compete with Team USA at the World Championships this July/August in Russia. Parratto took home a silver medal in the synchro 3-meter event at the 2015 FINA Puerto Rico Grand Prix in April and also took fourth in the synchro platform at the event.
Swimming news courtesy of Indiana University Swimming and Diving.