Kristyn Deckard Hired as Pepperdine Women’s Assistant Coach

MALIBU, California — Pepperdine women’s swimming and diving head coach Ellie Monobe announced today that Kristyn Deckard has been hired to fill an assistant coaching position. Deckard is the first coach hired by Monobe, who became head coach this summer.

“I first want to thank Ellie Monobe for the opportunity to coach at Pepperdine University,” Deckard said. “I look forward to continuing to build the Waves program along with creating new traditions. I am beyond excited to get started.”

Deckard, a graduate of the University of San Diego, was last an assistant women’s coach at San Diego Mesa College, where she focused on recruiting and planning workouts. Prior to her time at Mesa College, Deckard had two stints as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of San Diego during the 2015-16 and the 2019-20 seasons. In both stints at USD, she specialized in the mid-distance and long spirint groups while working under head coach Mike Keeler and assistant coach Jaclyn Rosen.

“Kristyn has a very strong club swimming background and has worked with various USA Junior and National Teams prior to making the leap into collegiate athletics,” Monobe said. “Her wealth of experience will elevate our program’s approach to training, and I am looking forward to working with and learning from her.”

In total, Deckard has nearly a decade of coaching experience in the sport, ranging from the club teams all the way up to the national level. She had her first experience working with Team USA as a volunteer manager in October 2017, in which she managed the College Challenge meet for USA Swimming. In August 2018, Deckard was a volunteer manager for USA Swimming during the Jr. Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, held in Fiji.

Throughout her collegiate coaching experience, Deckard was also an assistant and a lead coach for North Coast Aquatics, a club team based out of San Diego, from 2014-20. She was also a swim instructor at SwimLabs San Diego from 2014-19, where she used video analysis to help swimmers and triathletes improve their technique.

A native of Bend, Oregon, Deckard won three state titles at Mountain View High School — including setting a state record in the 100 backstroke as a senior — before swimming at the University of San Diego from 2009-13. Deckard graduated from USD in 2013 with a bachelor’s in business administration. Upon graduation, she held school records in the 100 and 200 back, plus the 200 and 400 medley relays.

Monobe succeeded interim head coach Jana Vincent as the fourth full-time head coach in Pepperdine swim and dive history. Pepperdine will build upon a 2020 campaign that saw the Waves place second at the 2020 MPSF Championships, break seven school records and send seven swimmers to the CSCAA National Invitational Championships before the season was cut short due to COVID-19.