PARAMUS, N.J. - Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball head coach Greg Herenda is set to receive the Courageous - Adult Award at the 2021 YMCA of Greater Bergen County Sports Award Banquet this evening, Tuesday, November 23, at The Terrace in Paramus, N.J. The only intercollegiate coach recognized at this year's banquet, Herenda overcame great adversity to lead the Knights to the program's first NCAA tournament victory which came on March 19, 2019 against Prairie View A&M, 82-76.

In 2018, while attending the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four with his family in San Antonio, Texas, Herenda suffered two blood clots and a high fever over 15 days - including eight in intensive care - at Methodist Hospital where he wondered if he'd ever walk again.

Nearly a year later, Herenda bounced back stronger than ever when the North Bergen, N.J. native stood on the sideline at University of Dayton Arena in Ohio as the final seconds ticked off the clock with history made in the Buckeye State: the Knights are moving on in the NCAA tournament!

"To be honored by the YMCA of Greater Bergen County is so special to me," said Herenda. "When my professional career was in doubt, the Y in Illinois gave me an awesome opportunity - which ultimately saved my ability to continue to coach."

The timing of the award is fitting as Herenda's team recently played Northwestern in Illinois, not far from Elgin Community College where the former Merrimack student-athlete received his first head coaching job and also served as the director of the first-ever annual giving campaign for the YMCA of McHenry County.

Herenda was scheduled to receive the local honor in the fall of 2020 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was postponed.

For additional information on the YMCA Sports Awards program, please click here or the link above.