UC Irvine Launches Ted Newland Endowment Campaign

With UC Irvine’s approval to name the pool at Anteater Aquatics Complex in honor of the late and legendary Ted Newland, UCI Water Polo has launched a fundraising campaign to make the tribute a lasting reality.

Over a remarkable 39-year career at UC Irvine, Coach Newland built one of the most respected programs in collegiate men’s water polo. Under his leadership, the Anteaters made 21 NCAA Championship appearances and captured three national titles in 1970, 1982, and 1989. Among his most celebrated achievements was leading the team to a perfect 30-0 season in 1982. 

Newland became the first NCAA water polo coach to reach 700 career victories, finishing with an overall record of 714-345-5. He was a four-time National Coach of the Year and a nine-time conference coach of the year. Beyond his records and accolades, Coach Newland shaped generations of student-athletes by instilling an enduring standard of excellence and character both in and out of the pool.

“Ted Newland was my coach, but beyond that, he was a father figure who imparted many lessons upon me, which I still use in my coaching and mentorship of young athletes today,” UCI Director of Water Polo Dan Klatt said. “He deserves this for his commitment to UC Irvine and I hope that future Anteaters will know who Ted Newland is because as they walk onto the pool deck, his name is celebrated and his legacy is cemented into UCI history forever.”

UC Irvine alumni and friends are invited to contribute to a fundraising target of $150,000 by June 30, 2026, to establish the Ted Newland Water Polo Endowment. Because the pool is already constructed, all funds raised will go toward creating a perpetual endowment in Coach Newland's name - one designed to support UCI water polo student-athletes in their athletic and academic pursuits, and to prepare them for lifelong achievement beyond collegiate competition. 

In addition to the endowment and pool naming, the campaign will fund several meaningful dedication elements, including a Legends Wall that will recognize Hall of Fame members, Olympians, and NCAA Championship teams. The initiative will also include a permanent memorial on the pool deck honoring Ben Carlson, a hero and beloved member of the UCI water polo family.

The broader fundraising initiative totals $175,000, encompassing both the endowment and dedication-related expenses. The endowment will be seeded with the funds raised after covering those dedication costs and will continue to grow over time, ensuring the long-term sustainability of UC Irvine Water Polo for generations to come.

“Coach Newland’s impact isn’t just here at UCI with the legacy, foundation, and alumni base he built; his impact is beyond domestic, it’s global,” said John Abdou, UC Irvine Senior Associate Athletic Director and former Chief Sport Performance Officer for USA Water Polo. “The amount of athletes Coach Newland impacted and the amount of people he inspired through the course of his career makes his coaching tree endless, and it will live on forever. The people he taught will teach others and it’s that legacy we are celebrating through this project. It would be exciting for all of us to be part of this, not just as the UCI community, but as the water polo community as a whole.”

For more information about how to contribute to the Ted Newland endowment and pool naming project, please contact UC Irvine Executive Director of Athletics Development Brandon Leimbach at leimbach@uci.edu.