Dan Marella Named Pepperdine Swimming & Diving Head Coach

MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine Athletics has named Dan Marella the top coach of the ladies’s swimming and diving program, Director of Athletics Tanner Gardner introduced at the moment. 

Marella has served as Interim Head Coach for this system since December 2025, as this season marked his fourth on employees with the Waves.

 

He initially joined this system as a volunteer assistant coach in September 2022, earlier than approaching in a full time assistant teaching position previous to the 2023-24 season.

 

“Dan has demonstrated an exceptional ability to connect with our student-athletes in and out of the pool while playing a vital role in the program’s unprecedented success over the past few seasons,” mentioned Tanner Gardner, Director of Athletics. “He has successfully led with purpose this season while stepping in as interim head coach in November, and we’re excited for the future of Pepperdine Swimming & Diving under his direction.”

 

Since becoming a member of the Pepperdine teaching employees, Marella has helped information one of the crucial profitable stretches in program historical past. The Waves captured two convention championships throughout his tenure, together with this system’s first-ever MPSF title in 2025.

 

“I am incredibly honored to be named the Head Swimming and Diving Coach at Pepperdine University,” mentioned Marella. “Over the past few years, I’ve seen the commitment, resilience, and belief that defines this program. Our goal is simple: to develop student-athletes of character, excel in the classroom, compete for championships and represent Pepperdine with pride.” 

 

13 new program data have been set this season beneath Marella’s route, together with three new diving data, 4 new relay data, and 6 particular person data.

 

This season, Marella guided the Waves to a Sixth-place end on the MPSF Championships, with six program data being set through the meet. This contains three freshmen serving to set new program bests. Records that have been set through the convention meet embody the 800 free relay, 200 free, 200 medley relay, 400 IM, platform dive and 400 free relay.

 

The Waves defeated rival San Diego within the applications’ twin meet for the primary time since 2021 this January, taking 13 of 19 occasions over the Toreros.

 

Two Waves certified for the NCAA Diving Zones this season as effectively, that includes freshman Jackie Johnson & senior Vivian Vallely.

 

The 2025 season noticed the Waves win the MPSF Championship whereas 20 student-athletes earned All-MPSF honors. It marked the Waves’ first MPSF title, second convention championship in three seasons with Marella on employees.

 

Marella additionally helped information the 2023 squad to their second-ever PCSC Championship, because the previous 4 years have seen this system breakthrough unprecedentedly within the postseason.

 

The Waves have additionally excelled academically throughout Marella’s tenure, with 24 student-athletes incomes MPSF All-Academic recognition this previous educational yr whereas incomes CSCAA Scholar All-America Team honors for the twentieth consecutive semester.

 

The fall 2025 semester noticed the best GPA in program historical past at 3.62.

 

A standout swimmer at UC Santa Barbara, Marella was a two-time group captain for the Gauchos and recorded three top-three finishes on the MPSF Championships throughout his time as a student-athlete.

 

A local of Cupertino, California, Marella graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2022 with a bachelor’s diploma in music research.

 

ABOUT PEPPERDINE SWIM AND DIVE

Pepperdine swimming & diving has a wealthy historical past spanning 4 many years, having posted top-five finishes in its convention in 32 of 39 seasons. The Waves have captured three convention championships previously 4 seasons, its first three convention titles, successful its first MPSF Championship in 2025 after becoming a member of the convention the season prior. In 38 seasons within the PCSC, the Waves noticed 48 particular person champions and 20 PCSC Swimmer or Diver of the Year awards. Andreea Trufasu stands as this system’s lone Olympian, having competed within the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

 

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