ERICA BACHELOR
Staff Writer
The sun’s rays peak around the horizon while dancing along the waves and sand of Malibu’s beaches. Malibu is full of life and contains some of the most beautiful coastal enclaves. Longtime resident Marian Hall recently compiled city scenes in her book, “Malibu: California’s Most Famous Seaside Community,” with more than 100 vintage and full-color images. Among the images featured are the artistic workings of Nick Rodionoff, the head coach of Pepperdine’s women’s swimming and diving teams.
Rodionoff’s work has also appeared in “Outdoor Photography,” “Surfer” and “Los Angeles Magazine.” Rodionoff is a true Renaissance Man. He is an accomplished photographer and artist as well as the league’s 2002 “Diving Coach of the Year.” He is also a member of the International Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame in Florida.
In the fall of 1999, he was honored as with the Fred A. Cady Memorial Coaches Award. The award is given biannually to those coaches who have dedicated more than 25 years to diving, and trained talent in the U.S. national diving program and international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
Rodionoff was the head diving coach at UCLA for many years before deciding to move to Pepperdine in the mid-1970s. Under his direction, Pepperdine divers have claimed a conference championship title on 14 occasions.
“I think Nick is an amazing coach, he has done a lot of things to improve my diving skills/outlook on the sport itself, and of course, he is definitely a very amazing person,” said Devyn Schumacher, a member of Pepperdine’s diving team. Rodionoff motivates his swimmers and divers to perform to the best of their ability, he said.
As a collegian, Rodionoff participated in diving, football and track and field. In his senior year, he won the conference diving title. He has been so influential that the pool at Birmingham High is named in his honor.
Besides his achievements in diving and swimming, he is also accomplished in photography and art.
“I started experimenting with photography as an art form after college,” Rodionoff said. “Have been taking pictures ever since.”
It is considered an honor for a photographer to have work featured in a publication. For Rodionoff, “It is very gratifying. It is nice to be able to share my work with the community. The book has been well received, and I think that is because it reflects the spirit of Malibu.”
Rodionoff grew up in a family of working artists, which fueled his love for art.
“Art has always been an important part of my family,” he said. “I have uncles who were working artists, and my parents were professional musicians/singers.”
Many artists find their inspiration in a single subject or object.
“I find inspiration in the subjects that I photograph,” Rodionoff said. “In this particular publication, Malibu is the topic. And we live in a place where there is beauty all around, just waiting to be captured on film.”
Rodionoff has two children, Han’s and Nicole. His daughter Nicole is a graduate of Pepperdine.
Rodionoff keeps his equipment in his car. It is instinctive when he will shoot, he said. “Shots just happen,” Rodionoff said.
His office contains photos of the teams and his own photography. One photo in particular taken by Rodionoff is of waves as the sun is low on the horizon. The Santa Ana winds caused the waves in the photo. A copy of the book by Hall, featuring Rodionoff’s work is in the athletics office.
A man of many talents and accomplishments is the best way to describe Pepperdine’s women’s swimming and diving teams’ coach. He is multi-talented and his work will continue to inspire many, and will stand as a symbol of the beauty of Malibu.
11-10-2005