Joe Spahn became the third head coach in Pepperdine women’s swimming and diving history when he was named to the position in April 2018. He is in his second season in 2019-20. He was also named the Director or Aquatics in August 2019.
During his first season as head coach, he led the Waves to a 2nd place finish at the PCSC Championships, took two swimmers to the CSCAA National Invitational Championships and set five school records.
Spahn had previously been an assistant coach at Notre Dame, where for three seasons (2015-16 through 2017-18), he helped contribute to the Fighting Irish’s impressive success, which included 47 school records, 11 All-Americans and 42 NCAA Championships qualifiers during his tenure.
“I am extremely humbled and honored to have the opportunity to lead the Pepperdine University women’s swimming and diving program,” said Spahn at his hiring. “I look forward to continuing a positive Pepperdine student-athlete experience through Christian values, academic excellence and competing for championships. My wife, Mary Kate, and I are thrilled to be part of the Pepperdine family.”
In Spahn’s final season at Notre Dame, the Irish men took fourth place at the 2018 ACC Championships and 23rd at the NCAA Championships, while the women were fifth at the ACC Championships and 41st at the NCAA Championships.
Spahn was also the camp director for the University of Notre Dame Swim Camp.
“We are very excited to welcome Joe to the Pepperdine Wave family,” said Pepperdine Director of Athletics Dr. Steve Potts at the time of Spahn’s hiring. “Joe is a great fit for our university’s Christian mission and brings extensive experience as a swim coach. We are thrilled that he will be leading our swim and dive program.”
Prior to Notre Dame, Spahn was the assistant men’s and women’s swimming coach and women’s recruiting coordinator at the University of Hawai’i for two years (2013-14 and 2014-15). He was the lead coach for middle distance swimmers and the travel coordinator. In 2015, he helped the women’s team win its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title since 2006 and just the second-ever. Both the men and women finished in the top five in the conference throughout his tenure.
Spahn also worked a year at UNLV (2012-13) as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, where he helped the men’s team win the MPSF title.
He also worked as a volunteer assistant coach at Georgia while he attained his master’s degree. The women’s team won three consecutive SEC championships and placed second at the NCAA Championships in 2011 and 2012. Additionally, he served as an assistant coach of the Athens Bulldogs Swim Team and was the head swim coach and lessons director at Athens Country Club.
Spahn also served as a coach and camp counselor at four different collegiate summer camps across multiple years.
Spahn graduated from Minnesota State-Mankato in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He was a distance swimmer for the Mavericks and earned all-conference and academic all-conference recognition. He went on to earn his master’s degree in kinesiology from Georgia in 2012.
He is originally from Albuquerque, N.M. He is married to the former Mary Kate Foster.
