Ellie Monobe Steps Down as Pepperdine Women’s Swimming & Diving Head Coach

MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine women's swimming & diving head coach Ellie Monobe, who led the Waves to the 2025 MPSF Championship, is leaving her position at Pepperdine for a new opportunity.

Monobe has accepted a position at the helm of the newly launched Saint Mary's College men's and women's swimming program. Monobe was announced as head coach on Tuesday morning and will begin her duties on Dec. 1. The Gaels will compete in their inaugural season in 2026-27.

Monobe will finish the fall competition segment with the Waves, including a home dual meet this Saturday against UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara.

"We are extremely grateful for Ellie's leadership and passion, which have led to unprecedented success for our student-athletes both in and out of the pool," said Director of Athletics Tanner Gardner. "We wish her the very best in this next chapter."

Monobe was in the midst of her sixth season with the Waves after coming to Malibu in the summer of 2020. She led Pepperdine to its first-ever conference championship in 2022, capturing the Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference (PCSC) title.

Monobe and the Waves repeated as PCSC champions in 2023, and after moving to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) in the fall of 2023, earned a third conference title in four seasons. Monobe was named the 2025 MPSF Coach of the Year following the championship.

During her tenure, Monobe guided the Waves to 17 individual or relay conference titles. In five seasons, her student-athletes clocked program records in 13 swimming events.

Following Monobe's departure, assistant coach Dan Marella will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Monique Demaisip will continue in her role as diving coach.

Marella is in fourth season on staff in Malibu, having played an integral role in all three conference championships during his time as assistant coach. Marella joined the Waves following a standout career at UC Santa Barbara, where he was an All-MPSF first team honoree in multiple events in both 2019 and 2021.

A national search for the program's next head coach will begin in the spring.

ABOUT PEPPERDINE SWIMMING AND DIVING
Pepperdine swimming & diving has a rich history spanning four decades, having posted top-five finishes in its conference in 32 of 39 seasons. The Waves have captured three conference championships in the past four seasons, its first three conference titles, winning its first MPSF Championship in 2025 after joining the conference the season prior. In 38 seasons in the PCSC, the Waves saw 48 individual champions and 20 PCSC Swimmer or Diver of the Year awards. Andreea Trufasu stands as the program's lone Olympian, having competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

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Ellie Monobe Steps Down as Pepperdine Women’s Swimming & Diving Head Coach

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