Paul Moniak continues to lead the University of Illinois at Chicago men's and women's swimming and diving programs to new heights of success as he enters his eighth season at the helm. In seven years as head coach of the Flames, Moniak has taken UIC's aquatic squads from middle-of-the-pack status to serious Horizon League title contention. Under Moniak, both the men's and women's teams have gained major ground in talent level, depth, and overall preparation, and the proof is in the numbers. In the past six seasons various school records have been shattered countless times, including NCAA `B' cut times by Andrew Schmitt in the 200-yard butterfly last season and Blake Booher's 50-yard freestyle mark in 2007. Last season the Flames claimed two Horizon League event championships and had 14 top-three finishes. Andrea Giczewski capped off a stellar career with victories in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events, setting a league championship record in the longer event. The 2007-08 campaign saw nine school records become even quicker, with Giczewski lowering the 50, 100 and 200 free marks. Kelly Hashoian took control over the long distance-events in her first season as a Flame, setting new standards in the 500, 1000 and 1650 free throughout the year. Giczewski, Hashoian, Emily Hare and Kathryn McLeland also broke the 800 free relay record. On the men's squad, Andrew Schmitt dropped the 200 fly record, then joined up with Dan Hare, Evan Dunn and Brian Anderson to break the two-year old 800 free relay record. In 2007, the Flames took home six league event championships, led by the school record holder in the 50-yard free, Blake Booher. Both the men's and women's 200 and 400 free relays were victorious at the championships, with the women's squads setting new league records at the meet. In that season alone Moniak led the Flames to All-Horizon League honors in 10 events while setting 14 new school-record times. In 2004-05 both the men's and women's swimming and diving teams at UIC reach big-time goals, as the men's team finished third in the Horizon League for the school's highest finish since 1994 and the women's team accumulated the most points at the league championships since 1999. Moniak's superb effort in 2004-05 earned the UIC head coach Horizon League Men's Swimming Coach of the Year honors. In just six short years, Moniak has been recognized as the league's swimming coach of the year three times. Along with his 2005 award, Moniak was also the Horizon League Women's Swimming Coach of the Year in his first season and the conference's Men's Coach of the Year in 2003. A tireless worker who combines meticulous preparation with a cool demeanor, Moniak has recruited and coached top talent from the Chicagoland area, the Midwest and the entire nation. Moniak has built a solid foundation for the UIC swimming and diving program ever since his arrival in 2001. His desire to recruit student-athletes who are committed to both the classroom and the pool is unwavering, and twice during the 2005-06 academic year both the men's and women's swimming and diving teams were awarded Academic All-America honors by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. UIC has now earned the CSCAA academic recognition seven times in five years under Moniak. Moniak came to UIC after a two-year stint as an assistant coach at the University of the Pacific, where he coached NCAA Championship qualifiers, multiple school record holders and swimmers with Olympic Time Trial standards for the Tigers. Before Pacific, Moniak served as an assistant coach for UW-Milwaukee from 1991-1999. Besides coaching at the collegiate level, Moniak has also served as the Associate Head Coach for Tiger Aquatics in Stockton, Calif., from 1999-2001, and as the Age-Group Coach for the North Shore Swim Club in Whitefish Bay, Wis., from 1994-1999. Along with his coaching duties for the Flames, Moniak coaches the Chicago Masters Swim Club. Before his coaching career, Moniak was a collegiate standout at Northern Illinois University, where he was a Midwest Conference finalist in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke events and earned the 1989 "Workhorse Award." Prior to his college career, Moniak was part of an All-American 200-yard medley relay team at Hinsdale Central High School. |
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