Staff Directory
Ellie Monobe
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
The momentum continues to build within Saint Mary's Aquatics as Ellie Monobe returns to Northern California as the Gaels' head men's and women's swimming coach, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso announced on Tuesday, November 11th.
Monobe joins the Gaels after leading the Pepperdine Waves' women's swimming and diving program to three conference championships in the past four seasons, which included winning the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship in 2025. She was named the PCSC Coach of the Championship Meet in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the MPSF Coach of the Year in 2025.
"We are thrilled to have someone with such high accolades and character in Ellie join our athletic department and lead our swimming program," Matoso said. "Ellie is a perfect fit for the campus community and her success coaching will be a tremendous asset as we build the swimming program."
"I'm honored to join Saint Mary's College and help launch the men's and women's swimming programs. I'd like to thank VP Mike Matoso and senior athletic staff for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity," Monobe said. "Their vision, commitment and enthusiasm for aquatics makes this an exciting time to be a part of Saint Mary's. I look forward to building a championship caliber program in the Bay Area, well known for its rich aquatic traditions."
Prior to Pepperdine, Monobe spent four years (2017–20) at UC Santa Barbara under head coach Matt Macedo. She was promoted to associate head coach after her third season and was the recruiting coordinator for both the men's and women's programs. During her UCSB tenure, the Gauchos won MPSF titles on the men's side in 2017 and 2018, while the women turned in three second-place finishes. Monobe was also an assistant coach at UNLV during the 2015–16 season (helping the men tie for 35th place at the NCAA Championships) and at UMass during the 2014–15 season.
She spent the 2013–14 school year as head coach of the Sun Valley Swim Team in Lafayette, Calif., while also serving as a graduate assistant in compliance in San Jose State, where she earned her master's degree in kinesiology and also served as the team manager for the Spartan women's swimming and diving team.
A native of Northern California, Monobe got her start in coaching at her alma mater, University of California, Berkeley, where she was an undergraduate assistant/volunteer assistant coach in 2011-12 while completing her degree in American studies.
From 2007–11, Monobe was a four-year member of Cal's women's swimming team, which won NCAA championships in 2009 and 2011 and a Pacific-10 Conference title in 2009. She was a team captain as a senior and won the program's Coach's Award in 2009 and 2011.
Monobe joins the Gaels after leading the Pepperdine Waves' women's swimming and diving program to three conference championships in the past four seasons, which included winning the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship in 2025. She was named the PCSC Coach of the Championship Meet in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and the MPSF Coach of the Year in 2025.
"We are thrilled to have someone with such high accolades and character in Ellie join our athletic department and lead our swimming program," Matoso said. "Ellie is a perfect fit for the campus community and her success coaching will be a tremendous asset as we build the swimming program."
"I'm honored to join Saint Mary's College and help launch the men's and women's swimming programs. I'd like to thank VP Mike Matoso and senior athletic staff for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity," Monobe said. "Their vision, commitment and enthusiasm for aquatics makes this an exciting time to be a part of Saint Mary's. I look forward to building a championship caliber program in the Bay Area, well known for its rich aquatic traditions."
Prior to Pepperdine, Monobe spent four years (2017–20) at UC Santa Barbara under head coach Matt Macedo. She was promoted to associate head coach after her third season and was the recruiting coordinator for both the men's and women's programs. During her UCSB tenure, the Gauchos won MPSF titles on the men's side in 2017 and 2018, while the women turned in three second-place finishes. Monobe was also an assistant coach at UNLV during the 2015–16 season (helping the men tie for 35th place at the NCAA Championships) and at UMass during the 2014–15 season.
She spent the 2013–14 school year as head coach of the Sun Valley Swim Team in Lafayette, Calif., while also serving as a graduate assistant in compliance in San Jose State, where she earned her master's degree in kinesiology and also served as the team manager for the Spartan women's swimming and diving team.
A native of Northern California, Monobe got her start in coaching at her alma mater, University of California, Berkeley, where she was an undergraduate assistant/volunteer assistant coach in 2011-12 while completing her degree in American studies.
From 2007–11, Monobe was a four-year member of Cal's women's swimming team, which won NCAA championships in 2009 and 2011 and a Pacific-10 Conference title in 2009. She was a team captain as a senior and won the program's Coach's Award in 2009 and 2011.
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