Pepperdine Athletics announced on Mar. 10 that Dan Marella has been appointed as the head coach of the university’s women’s swimming and diving program, according to Director of Athletics Tanner Gardner.
The appointment follows Marella’s tenure as interim head coach since December 2025, marking his fourth year with the Waves. His leadership comes at a time when the program has experienced significant achievements in both athletic and academic arenas.
Marella first joined Pepperdine as a volunteer assistant coach in September 2022 before moving into a full-time assistant coaching role prior to the 2023-24 season. Gardner said, “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. 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.”
During Marella’s time on staff, Pepperdine captured two conference championships, including its first-ever Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) title in 2025. This season alone saw 13 new program records set under his guidance, including three new diving records, four relay records, and six individual marks. The Waves finished sixth at this year’s MPSF Championships with six program records set during the meet.
Reflecting on his new role, Marella said, “I am incredibly honored to be named the Head Swimming and Diving Coach at Pepperdine University. 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.” Two athletes qualified for NCAA Diving Zones this season.
Academically, Pepperdine swimmers have also excelled during Marella’s tenure. Twenty-four student-athletes earned MPSF All-Academic recognition last year while earning College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America Team honors for a twentieth consecutive semester. The fall 2025 semester saw a record-high team GPA of 3.62.
Marella was previously a standout swimmer at UC Santa Barbara where he served as team captain twice and recorded three top-three finishes at MPSF Championships before graduating in 2022 with a degree in music studies.
Pepperdine swimming & diving has posted top-five conference finishes in 32 out of its last 39 seasons and won three conference championships over four recent seasons.
