Marella Provides Three-Time NCAA Champion Emma Durham to Employees as Assistant Swimming Coach

MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine head swimming & diving coach Dan Marella has introduced the addition of three-time NCAA Champion Emma Durham to the workers as assistant swimming coach forward of the 2026-27 season. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Emma to Pepperdine,” stated Marella. “During her time at Penn, she established herself as one of the top recruiters in the country, while also demonstrating a tremendous ability to develop and elevate her student-athletes. Her experience as one of the most accomplished swimmers in NCAA history brings an invaluable perspective to our program and culture. This addition reflects the direction and ambition of our program. Monique and I are excited to continue building the future of Pepperdine Swimming and Diving with Emma.”

Durham, previously Emma Sticklen, is the NCAA document holder within the 200 butterfly (1:49.11) from her time as a student-athlete on the University of Texas, the place she gained three consecutive NCAA titles within the 200 fly from 2023-25. 

Durham joins the workers in Malibu after spending this previous season as an assistant coach on the University of Pennsylvania. In her lone season with the Quakers, Durham helped lead the Penn girls’s squad to a second place end on the Ivy League Championships, the best end in program historical past. She additionally contributed to seven NCAA qualifying swims and two particular person Ivy League Champions.

“I am incredibly excited and honored to be joining Pepperdine University as assistant coach,” stated Durham. “The tight-knit community and Christian values at the heart of the university make it a truly special place. Coach Dan and I have a shared vision for this program, and the opportunity to make a real impact both in and out of the pool is what excites me most!”

Overall, Durham was a 23-time All-America choice, placing collectively one of the embellished careers in NCAA swimming historical past. Her 100 fly mark (49.27) is seventh in NCAA historical past as is her 200 medley relay time (1:33.22) set with the Longhorns in 2023.

She gained three particular person convention titles on the 2025 SEC Championships within the 200 IM, 100 fly, and 200 fly, in addition to two relays within the 200 medley and 200 free. She gained her third consecutive nationwide title within the 200 fly as effectively to wrap up her storied collegiate profession. Durham holds a number of Big 12 and SEC data, incomes Swimmer of the Year honors in each conferences with Texas.

In her 2023-24 marketing campaign, Durham gained the NCAA title within the 200 fly, took silver within the 100 fly with a school-record 49.70 and completed eleventh within the 200 IM (1:54.19). She tabbed 5 All-American honors in complete at NCAAs that season, main the Longhorns to their third consecutive National Runner-up end as a crew.

In 2022-23, she gained her first-ever nationwide title within the 200 fly whereas capturing All-America honors within the 100 fly, 200 fly, and 200 IM, along with the 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay. Durham took house a gold medal within the 200 fly at Big 12 Championships for the second consecutive 12 months, profitable convention titles in all three relay occasions as effectively.

She earned two particular person All-America honors within the 100 and 200 fly on the 2022 NCAA Championships as a sophomore, additionally putting among the many high eight within the 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay. At the convention stage, she gained 4 Big 12 titles within the 200 fly, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay occasions.

Durham joins the Waves coming off a 2025-26 season which noticed 13 new program data set below Marella’s route, together with three new diving data, 4 new relay data, and 6 particular person data. The Waves posted  a Sixth-place end on the MPSF Championships, with six program data being set through the meet, together with three freshmen serving to set new program bests. 

Durham has additionally been a member of the United States nationwide crew and is a two-time qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Originally a local of Katy, Texas, Durham graduated from the University of Texas in 2024 with a bachelor’s diploma in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, finally incomes a grasp’s diploma from Texas in Communication and Media Studies in 2025.

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 40 seasons. The Waves have captured three convention championships previously 4 seasons, its first three convention titles, profitable 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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