MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine Athletics has named Dan Marella the head coach of the women's swimming and diving program, Director of Athletics Tanner Gardner announced today. 

Marella has served as Interim Head Coach for the program since December 2025, as this season marked his fourth on staff with the Waves.
 
He originally joined the program as a volunteer assistant coach in September 2022, before coming on in a full time assistant coaching role prior 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," said 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 joining the Pepperdine coaching staff, Marella has helped guide one of the most successful stretches in program history. The Waves captured two conference championships during his tenure, including the program's first-ever MPSF title in 2025.
 
"I am incredibly honored to be named the Head Swimming and Diving Coach at Pepperdine University," said 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 records were set this season under Marella's direction, including three new diving records, four new relay records, and six individual records.
 
This season, Marella guided the Waves to a 6th-place finish at the MPSF Championships, with six program records being set during the meet. This includes three freshmen helping set new program bests. Records that were set during the conference meet include the 800 free relay, 200 free, 200 medley relay, 400 IM, platform dive and 400 free relay.
 
The Waves defeated rival San Diego in the programs' dual meet for the first time since 2021 this January, taking 13 of 19 events over the Toreros.
 
Two Waves qualified for the NCAA Diving Zones this season as well, featuring freshman Jackie Johnson & senior Vivian Vallely.
 
The 2025 season saw the Waves win the MPSF Championship while 20 student-athletes earned All-MPSF honors. It marked the Waves' first MPSF title, second conference championship in three seasons with Marella on staff.
 
Marella also helped guide the 2023 squad to their second-ever PCSC Championship, as the past four years have seen the program breakthrough unprecedentedly in the postseason.
 
The Waves have also excelled academically during Marella's tenure, with 24 student-athletes earning MPSF All-Academic recognition this past academic year while earning CSCAA Scholar All-America Team honors for the 20th consecutive semester.
 
The fall 2025 semester saw the highest GPA in program history at 3.62.
 
A standout swimmer at UC Santa Barbara, Marella was a two-time team captain for the Gauchos and recorded three top-three finishes at the MPSF Championships during his time as a student-athlete.
 
A native of Cupertino, California, Marella graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in music studies.
 
ABOUT PEPPERDINE SWIM AND DIVE
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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