Merrill Moses

Biography

Merrill Moses, a three-time Olympian and former All-American and national champion water polo player for the Waves, returned to Pepperdine in 2012 to join the coaching staff and was elevated to head coach in March 2024. He had previously been promoted to the position of associate head coach prior to the 2017 season. The 2026 campaign will be his 15th on the staff and third as head coach. Through two seasons, Moses has guided the Waves to 38-19 overall record with back-to-back WCC semifinal appearances. In 2025, the Waves finished the season ranked No. 9 team in the final national rankings. Pepperdine earned 11 ranked wins on the season and saw a conference-high seven receive postseason recognition from the West Coast Conference. In Moses' first season at the helm of the program in 2024, the Waves tabbed a 21-8 overall record including a 5-1 mark in WCC play while finishing at No. 13 in the final national rankings. Over the past 14 years, the Waves are 217-157 (.580) and have won four conference titles, including a WCC regular season crown in its inaugural season in 2023. As the interim co-head coach of the Waves in 2012, Moses helped Pepperdine to an 11-13 overall record. The team achieved a national ranking as high as #3 during the regular season. Upon the return of Dr. Terry Schroeder as head coach, Moses moved into the position of assistant coach in 2013. Moses played for Schroeder both with the Waves and the U.S. National Team. With Moses on staff, the Waves won the inaug