Renew Paul Moniak's Contract As UIC Swimming & Divings Head Coach

We have known Paul for over 10 years now. Paul recruited us after his first year during the time he was building his swimming program. As walk-on athletes, he treated us equal to every athlete in the pool. He made sure we both became better athletes and better individuals. We have never met anyone with Paul's devotion to the sport. He knows how to coach and manage a team. He understands how to build a program from the ground up and instill values in his athletes that create hard working, well-rounded individuals. Paul's devotion to the sport is seen by his endless hours working with athletes no matter their level. Any swimming program would be fortunate to have Paul as their head coach. Thank you, Paul, for your endless commitment to the sport and to your athletes. Doug and Holly Zimmer

I have known Paul Moniak for quite some time and he has been the best thing to happen to UIC Swimming and Diving. He is terrific Coach and he cares for his Athletes. In his time at UIC he has accomplished much in a very tough conference. His Swimmers were proud to be a part of UIC and he has left his impression on every one of them.

Paul is an outstanding coach and an even better person. His devotion and dedication to his student atheletes is unparalleled. He wanted everyone to succeed in and out the pool. Paul has had more of an impact on my life than any other coach or teacher. Thank you Paul.

Paul Moniak is one of the greatest coaches I have ever had the privilege of working with. He gives 100% of himself to his position as a coach and mentor to all his athletes. He's always been the first person to arrive and the last one to leave, no matter the day. UIC would be doing itself a disservice by looking elsewhere to fill that position. I wouldn't be the man I am today without him as a compass during my formative years as a college student-athlete. And I would never have earned UIC Hall of Fame Honors if it wasn't for his support and his grace. He encouraged me when I needed it, scolded me when I needed it, and gave me room to grow & change when I needed it. I strongly encourage the UIC athletic department to re-evaluate their decision.

Paul Moniak has not only been an amazing coach to me, he has been a great mentor and has stood by my side through many challenges. Despite having many medical setbacks during my career, Paul was always very supportive and encouraging. If it were not for Paul, I would not have overcome these setbacks to achieve the goals that I had set for myself. After 4 years of being an athlete under Paul I was granted the ability to coach side by side with him. His optimistic spirit and determination to encourage success in his athletes is something very rare and not encountered often. I was very lucky to serve UIC athletics with such an amazing coach and person in general.

Paul Moniak was not only a good coach, but a great mentor and all around great person. I cannot find anybody that knew Paul, inside or outside the pool, who has anything bad to say about him. This is coming from an athlete that swam for Paul alongside 5 other siblings throughout the span of 12 years. Being able to see the evolution of this team throughout the years has been very inspiring to anybody that is part of the UIC family. Paul has done things for this team that, 10 years ago, were thought impossible. He has put his heart and soul into this team. As a swimmer who came onto the team as a walk on athlete and eventually becoming a scholarship athlete Paul has contributed greatly to my development as an athlete and, more importantly, as a person.

Paul has been coach for the swim. He has very dedicated to the success of the team

Paul Moniak is an amazing coach, mentor and friend! I will never forget the night Paul came to pick me up to take me to the hospital because I was sick and had no family around. I can honestly say that if it weren't for Paul being my coach I never would have made it through those four years of swimming. He is irreplaceable to UIC, they will never find a coach as hardworking and as caring as Paul. When parents send their kids to school to be a part of a program like athletics they expect their child to be pushed to excel in their sport but also taken care of and Paul always found time to make all of that happen. Paul will always have a special spot in my heart, I was lucky to have had the opportunity to swim for such dedicated coach like Paul.

Paul is an outstanding coach and great role model.

Coach Paul is as of today a great inspiration for me as a coach and as an individual. Everything he has done in the past 13 for the swimming program has been to make the best he could bring. Im really sorry about the decision of the athletic department and wish Paul Moniak the best of luck in the future.

UIC is truly losing an all-around amazing coach who had nothing but the best intentions for this program. He put his heart and soul into this team and would do anything for his swimmers. Im honored to have been coached by him and wouldn't have been the athlete I am without his help. I hope UIC reevaluates their decision and realize that this team will not be the same without him

Paul was the type of coach that every athlete hopes to get. One that not only can get good results in the sport, but one who genuinely cares about each and every one of their athletes. He made sure his athletes had what they needed to succeed in the pool, in the classroom and as individuals. He always made time for his athletes (including athletes long since graduated) for anything they might need or want to talk about. He was more than just a coach, and he will still be more than just a coach to many if not all of the UIC swimming family.

Paul Moniak is a great mentor. Are his athletes perfect? Probably not, but neither are the baseball, soccer or basketball teams. Kids go to school to LEARN. Without good mentors education is a waste and maybe it is at UIC. I will not suggest UIC to our athletes without Paul.

Paul Moniak was not only my swim coach, he was my mentor. So many things I learned from him shaped me to the person I am today. He constantly was supporting us and always said school comes first then swimming. This just shows how important education was to him. Looking back at my swimming career, Paul is the one coach that stand out the most. Even more so than the coaches I had for 6 plus years. I think because Paul was so dedicated to this sport and his athletes. I still swim with Paul as a masters swimmer from time to time. I'd be lying if I said I went just to swim. I go to see Paul too. Whatever happens, I support Paul and I stand behind him.

Our family will be forever grateful to Paul for everything he has done for us. It has been a wonderful 13 years of knowing Paul! He has been an awesome coach but even more than that he will always be a valued and cherished friend. UIC swimming will never feel the same for us and we are truely going to miss him! We wish him all the best! We are so sad!

Paul Moniak is an amazing coach and gave everything for our team. He made me the athlete I am today. He strives and pushes all his athletes to their highest level.

I pledge my support for Paul Moniak.

Coach Paul recruited me back in 2001, I did already had one year of college swimming at Niu however I wanted a change , coach Paul gave exactly what I needed as a student athlete and I will thank him for enternally . He was for me the best coach and mentor that I ever had , he knew the know how to take from me 100% all the time . I really think that the athletic department at Uic are commenting a huge mistake .

This is very unfortunate, and a blow to the UIC Swimming and Diving Community. Paul lhas had a positive influence on so many. Paul= Integrity!

Mr. Moniak is a remarkable individual that positively impacts swimmers as well as parents of the athletes. He is extremely dedicated to the UIC program and the athletes. I highly recommend that UIC reconsider the action being taken and renew Mr. Moniak's contract as UIC Swimming & Diving Head Coach.