Pepperdine to Rename Malibu Invitational in Honor of Nick and Carrie Rodionoff
Pepperdine University announced on Saturday that it will rename its annual Malibu Invitational in honor of Nick and Carrie Rodionoff, to honor their decades directing the program.
Nick Rodionoff became the head coach in 2000-01 and led the Waves until the 2017-18 season. He had first arrived at Pepperdine in 1974 as the men’s diving coach and established a women’s diving team in 1987. Carrie Rodionoff served as a volunteer assistant coach and administrative assistant throughout Nick’s time as the head coach.
Together, they helped prevent the program being cut after the 2007-08 season when the university slated it for discontinuation.
“I am very excited to honor Nick and Carrie for all the work and care they have put into the program,” Pepperdine swim coach Ellie Monobe said in a university statement. “They have been such icons for the swimming and diving community in Malibu and have made a lasting impression at Pepperdine. I am humbled by the legacy they have built and look forward to sharing their rich traditions and history with generations of Waves moving forward.”
Nick Rodionoff was the PCSC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2009. The Waves finished in the top five in the conference 14 times, including a second-place finish in 2008. He mentored five PCSC swimmers of the year and six PCSC Divers of the year.
Nick Rodionoff arrived at Pepperdine as a successful high school coach. He spent 33 seasons as the head boys and girls coach at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, winning 31 league championships and 14 Los Angeles City Section titles. He coached diving at UCLA from 1964-74. In 1999, Nick Rodionoff won the Fred A. Cady Memorial Coaches Award.
“Nick and Carrie Rodionoff have tirelessly and generously given so much to the Pepperdine women’s swim and dive program. It is just one of several careers that Nick has committed to over his almost 50 years of coaching, with Carrie always by his side,” Pepperdine director of athletics Dr. Steve Potts said. “They are both so well-loved by the student-athletes that they coached over the years and we are proud to recognize Nick and Carrie by renaming our annual Malibu Invitational the Rodionoff Invitational.”
The first Rodionoff Invitational will be held Oct. 8-9.