(Irving, TX) After winning two conference titles, Sun Devil Swim and Dive were honored with five Big 12 awards, featuring Ilya Kharun earning Big 12 Men’s Swimmer of the Year, Julia Ullmannwinning Big 12 Women’s Freshman of the Year, Patrick Sammon winning men’s scholar-athlete of the year and head coach Herbie Behm winning Big 12 Coach of the Year for the men’s program and co-coach of the year honors for the women’s team.
In addition, 20 different Sun Devils from the men’s and women’s teams took home All-Big 12 First and Second Team honors, which is the most among Big 12 schools. It marks the fourth-consecutive year a Sun Devil has earned men’s swimmer of the year honors, and the second-straight season ASU has won coach of the year honors in swimming. The full list of Sun Devils can be found below and in the official conference release.
Ullmann’s freshman of the year honor is the first in women’s program history and Sammons scholar-athlete of the year honor adds to his list of accolades after winning the NCAA Elite 90 Award in March for highest cumulative GPA among qualified teams.
Head coach Behm earns coach of the year honors on the men’s side for his first coaching honor, and it’s the second-consecutive year ASU has taken home the award. For the women, he shares the honor with BYU’s head coach Tamber McAllister. It’s the first coaching of the year honor on the women’s team since Tim Hill won Pac-10 coach of the year in 1995. Behm led the Sun Devils to two Big 12 Championships, including the first conference title for the women’s team in program history and the third-straight conference championship for the men’s team, including the first Big 12 title for the men’s program.
THAT’S OUR COACH ??
Congratulations to @SirHerb_the3rd for winning @Big12Conference Men’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Co-Coach of the Year!#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/oFK3YksZHp
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) April 9, 2025
Kharun’s sophomore season was astounding, earning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics and earning a world championship in the 200 fly in December. The Canadian set Big 12 records in six different events during the season and had a runner-up finish at NCAA Championships last month in the 100 fly and the 50 free. Kharun earned six first-team All-American honors and won five Big 12 championships to cap off his sophomore year.
BEST IN CONFERENCE ??
Congrats to @ilya_kharun for being named @Big12Conference Men’s swimmer of the Year! ??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/5X3axtergS
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) April 9, 2025
Helping pace the women’s team, Ullmann placed in the top three in all her individual events at Big 12 Championships and set a school record of 51.40 in the 100 fly, winning her first conference title. She made her first NCAA championships appearance helping the 200 medley relay claim First-Team All-American honors which placed eighth at NCAA championships.
Another accolade to the list!
Congratulations to Julia Ullmann for being named @Big12Conference Women’s Freshman of the Year! ??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/wItIUaNQ20
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) April 9, 2025
In his final year donning the maroon and gold, Sammon was named the Elite 90 Award winner at NCAA Championships for the athlete with the highest culminate GPA. The real estate development major carries a 4.00 GPA and won Big 12 titles in the 400 and 800 free relays and snagged a conference championship in the 200 free with a career best time in 1:31.57. Sammon also appeared at NCAA Championships, earning five All-American honors with a runner-up finish in the 200 and 400 free relays.
Top of his class!
Congrats to our Elite 90 winner Patrick Sammon for earning @Big12Conference Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year! ??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/AF2DDkh9kx
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) April 9, 2025
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Zach Wargo
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