EIU Hires Sholudko As Swimming Coach

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois athletic director Tom Michael has announced the hiring of Evan Sholudko as the Panthers men’s and women’s swimming coach.  Sholudko will start in Charleston in late August and becomes the seventh head coach of the men’s program and eighth head coach of the women’s program.  The programs have been coached by a combined head coach since 1979 when long-time coach Ray Padovan took over both duties.

Sholudko comes to EIU following a stint at Assumption College in Massachusetts, where he worked as the head coach of the men’s swimming program and assistant coach for the women’s team.  As the director of the men’s program he helped initiate the program as a new varsity sport at Assumption.

On staff at Assumption since July 2017, Sholudko helped recruit and coach swimmers on the women’s team that placed second in the Northeast 10 Conference in 2018 and won the Northeast 10 Conference this past season.

“Evan is a talented young coach who impressed everyone with his maturity and vision for the EIU program during the interview process,” said Michael.  “We are excited to have him join our staff and continue to move the program forward with their performances in the water.”

In addition to his time at Assumption College, Sholudko was an assistant swimming coach at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, helping the program’s coaching staff win Empire 8 Conference Coaching Staff of the Year honors.  The program won the Empire 8 Conference title during the 2017 season.

“I am honored to be named the next head swimming coach at Eastern Illinois University,” said Sholudko.  “I am very grateful to Athletic Director Tom Michael and the rest of the athletic department for the opportunity.  I look forward to representing this wonderful institution and building on the past success of the program.”

A collegiate swimmer at the University of Massachusetts, Sholudko began his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer coach on the UMass staff.   He also worked for five years at the Adirondack Aquatic Club helping coach swimmers ages 13-18 as part of the USA/NE Swim program.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from UMass in 2016 and is completing an MBA from Assumption College.