Catching up with: Ted Newland

Tony Altobelli

Is it his three NCAA titles and a quest for four that drives

longtime UC Irvine men’s water polo coach Ted Newland?

Is it UCI’s 23 top-five finishes? The 600-plus victories? The 35

seasons? The 62 All-Americans he’s coached?

Nope.

The motivation which Newland uses to work countless hours, both at the

pool with the Anteaters and personally in the gym comes deep inside the

73-year-old. Even he isn’t quite sure where it comes from.

“Probably I got it from my mother,” Newland said. “Self motivation

comes from an early age and it’s something that can’t be taught. All the

successful players which have come in and out of here had that special

trait before they met me. I’m not vain enough to think I taught them

that.”

Newland, the founding father of water polo at both Newport Harbor and

Corona del Mar high schools in the 1950s, works harder in his 70s than

most people half his age. “I can still do 70-plus chin-ups,” Newland

boasts proudly. “I truly enjoy working out and staying in shape. I

believe a strong body helps the mind get stronger.”

Newland began making waves in the Newport-Mesa area back in 1956,

where he helped develop a water polo program for the Sailors. Seven years

later, he did the same thing for Corona del Mar.

“Water polo was very minor in this area at that time,” Newland said.

“To see how far it’s grown and to see all the success, it truly makes me

proud,” Newland said. “Nowadays, South Orange County is the hotbed of

high school water polo.”

But in the coaching circles, Newland is best known for his work at

UCI, where the four-time NCAA Coach of the Year has accumulated a

643-281-5 record, the all-time leader in wins in the collegiate ranks.

“The greatest reward for me isn’t the titles or all the wins,” Newland

said. “It’s the letters I receive from former athletes, telling me I’ve

made a difference in their lives. Some of my former players who have

written me weren’t even my star players. They were subs who just learned

and got something from my program. That’s always nice to see.”

Known as a fiercely competitive coach with a combative attitude,

Newland just wants the best for his players and he’s also preparing them

for the bigger game of life.

“I can be a hard-ass as a coach,” Newland said. “But the people I deal

with like me and respect me. I try to teach life lessons. Water polo is a

demanding sport and the people who succeed in this sport have a strong

sense of self-discipline and determination. That’s what you need to be

successful in life, too.”

Newland began his water polo “career” at Occidental College as a

goalie. “To be honest I was a lousy water polo player,” he confessed. “I

was a boxer and weightlifter so I had pretty good hand-eye coordination.

Other polo players saw that and thought I might make a good goalie. I

played and really liked the sport, but I knew I wanted to be a coach.”

Earlier this year, Newland, teamed up with fellow UCI Hall of Famer

and local athletic legend Bill Leach came out with a book entitled,

“Circle of Success.” The book puts together over 200 pages of personal

stories, tips and advice to help anyone overcome or improve whatever it

is they want to overcome or improve.

“It’s a good motivational book for people of all ages,” Newland said.

“There’s some excellent quotes from athletes and former players and some

short stories involving various aspects of life.”

Books, both written and on tape, have been a big influence on Newland.

“I’ve probably listened to over 550 books on tape,” he said. “Usually

around three or four books a month.

Newland, when not in the pool, or in the weight room, spends his time

with his second wife of 20 years, Anne. “I married a bright lady and a

great cook,” Newland said with a laugh. “I’m not stupid.”