Illinois Swim Coach Sue Novitsky Announces Retirement

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Photo Courtesy: Illinois Athletics

Illinois Swim Coach Sue Novitsky Announces Retirement

Illinois coach Sue Novitsky, who has spent 28 years as part of the Fighting Illini swimming and diving program, has announced her retirement Friday.

Novitsky has served as the head coach for the last 22 seasons, hired in 2001 as the fifth head coach in program history. She’s the program leader in wins, posting a 114-120-2 record.

“It has been a tremendous honor to have been able to work with so many outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff members during my time on deck at Illinois, and I thank you for all of your work,” Novitsky said in a school release. “I am grateful for the opportunity that was given to me and I will cherish all of the memories that I will be taking with me from 28 years wearing Orange & Blue. I wish the University of Illinois Swimming & Diving program all the best for the future and thank everyone that has been a part of the program during that entire time.”

Novitsky arrived in Champaign in 1994 as a volunteer assistant coach. She was promoted to full assistant in the fall of 1997. In her tenure, Illinois had a pair of First Team All-Big Ten swimmers, 16 individual NCAA qualifiers and two relay competitions. Novitsky also mentored U.S. national team diver Jessica Aveyard and two-time Turkish Olympian Ilkay Dikman. Her teams earned recognition by the CSCAA for a Superior or Excellent ranking for team grade-point average each of her 22 seasons. She’s become one of the elder statesman in the Big Ten coaching fraternity.

“For the last 28 years, including 22 as the head coach, Coach Sue Novitsky has provided tremendous leadership and service to hundreds of Fighting Illini swimming and diving student-athletes,” Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. “She retires as the winningest coach in our program’s history, cementing her place in our record books. Beyond the pool, her legacy will live in the generations of young women who have benefited from her wise counsel and mentorship.

“Under Sue’s leadership, our swimming and diving student-athletes performed exceptionally in the classroom and were always very active on campus and in the community. Amongst her head coaching colleagues, Sue brought needed perspective, humor, and experience. She was the first to volunteer for various DIA initiatives, and I will always remember her enthusiastic participation in our annual Jock Jams event. We celebrate Sue in her retirement and wish her nothing but the best in her new adventures.”

Illinois will undertake a national search for her successor.

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