Jan. 27, 2005
The winner of the L.F. “Tow” Diehm Inspirational Award for 2003-04 is Divan Coetzee from men’s tennis.
Started in 1997-98, the award is presented annually to UNM male student-athletes based on leadership, character, determination and commitment to team.
This year’s recipient will be recognized before the men’s basketball game on Monday, Jan. 31, against San Diego State. Presenting the award will be Tow’s wife, Pearl.
Divan Coetzee (di-vawn coat-zee) excelled on and off the tennis court. He was the 2004 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, leading UNM to the conference title and an appearance in the NCAA Championships. The Lobos’ No. 1 player for three straight years, Coetzee set a school record with 37 singles victories last year and tied the career mark with 96 wins. Academically, he managed a 3.66 cumulative GPA, completing his undergraduate degree in less than four years. Coetzee took a mind-boggling 21 hours of graduate-level classes during the 2004 spring semester so he could complete his MBA. A native of Clanwilliam, South Africa, Divan is currently living in New York City where he has interviewed with several Wall Street firms.
The late Tow Diehm served the University of New Mexico for 40 years, most of that time spent as the head athletics trainer. He was also an athletics administrator and a lobbyist for the department to the New Mexico state legislature. Tow passed away on May 1, 1998.
Tow Diehm Award
1997-98 Pepe Caballero – tennis
1998-99 Marcos White – basketball
1999-00 Daniel Reyes – football
2000-01 Brian Smith – basketball
2001-02 Jarrod Baxter – football
2002-03 Dusty Young – baseball
2003-04 Divan Coetzee – tennis