Nicole Monanian begins her fourth season at the helm of the Northern State swimming program in 2020-21. In tenure, Monanian has coached four Olympic trial qualifiers.
Northern placed seventh as a team from the 2019-20 NSIC Championships, with 157 team points. In addition, Monanian kicked off the Water Wolves swim lessons program in her third season at the helm.
Monanian led the Wolves to five school record performances in 2018-19. Hannah Kastigar qualified for the NCAA National Championships in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 fly, and 200 breast, swimming to All-American performances in each event. In addition, Kastigar won the 400 IM National Championship and broke two of her own school records in the 400 IM and 200 breast.
In her first season at the helm, Monanian led the Wolves to two dual victories, eight school records, and three all-conference performances.She coached her first NCAA All-American in Edda Skoric, who finished third overall in the 200 back from the NCAA National Championships.
From 2015-17, Monanian worked specifically with the Northern State distance swimmers in the 500 free, 1000 free, 1650 free, 800 free relay, and 400 individual medley events. She coached the Wolves to four school records in the 1000 free, 1650 free, 400 IM, 800 free relay in 2016-17. NSU swimming also made their first appearance in school history at the NCAA National Championships with six new school records, five All-American performances, and two National Championships.
While also in Aberdeen, Monanian spent six seasons with the Aberdeen Stingrays swim club. The Stingrays won the South Dakota Long Course Championship in the summer of 2016 with numerous swimmers going on to swim collegiately.
Monanian has coached age group swimming while in high school and college, working with a variety of skill levels and abilities including the Senior and National groups. She also founded a Special Olympics team within her community, and enjoys coaching summer league.
Monanian graduated from Providence College in 2013 with a bachelors in biology, and Northern State with a masters in Sport Performance and Leadership in May of 2017. She swam for the Providence College women’s swim team and was a member of the 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13 Big East Teams.
