Began at Illinois:
August, 1994

Education:
Novitsky earned her Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Oakland University in 1991 and her Master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Michigan in 1994.

Job Responsibilities:
Novitsky concluded her 22nd season as the head coach of the University of Illinois swimming and diving program in 2021-22. Novitsky, who joined the University of Illinois swimming and diving staff as a volunteer assistant coach in 1994-95, begins her 28th season as a part of the Illini program. After three seasons of working as the volunteer coach, Novitsky was promoted to assistant coach in the fall of 1997. In August 2000, she was hired by former Director of Athletics, Ron Guenther, as the fifth head coach in the program's history.

Past Experience:
Through the end of the 2021-22 season, Novitsky has led the Illini to a dual meet record of 114-120-2, good for the most wins in program history. The Huntington Woods, Michigan, native also oversaw the development of First Team All-Big Ten honorees Anna Christiansen (2001) and Barbie Viney (2006).In addition, Novitsky has sent 16 individual swimmers to the NCAA Championships, as well as relay teams in both 2002 and 2006. During her time in Champaign, the Orange and Blue have set program-best times in all 23 swimming events and also 1-meter, 3-meter and platform diving. Novitsky's first year as head coach was filled with success as three Illini qualified for the NCAA Championships, and Jessica Aveyard repeated as an All-American in the 200 backstroke. Novitsky's swimmers continued their success at the national and international levels, as Aveyard and Ilkay Dikmen qualified to represent their native countries at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Aveyard, swimming for the United States, reached the semifinals in the 200 backstroke, while Dikmen, a 2000 Olympian, competed for Turkey in the 200 breaststroke. Dikmen also swam in the 2004 Olympics in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. As an assistant coach, Novitsky trained several athletes, including Aveyard, who was an NCAA qualifier, All-American and World Championship semifinalist, and Anna Christiansen, who was a three-time NCAA qualifier. In addition, Novitsky trained six former Fighting Illini athletes at the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials.

Personal:
Novitsky was a two-time Division II All-American swimmer at Oakland University and was also a student assistant coach for the 1991 Division II national champion Oakland Pioneers. A Huntington Woods, MI native, Novitsky also enjoys playing tennis, running, working out, and reading in her spare time.

Updated March 2022