San Jose State To Reinstate Men's Water Polo Beginning In Fall 2015

Men's water polo to return after a long hiatus

Aug. 26, 2014  After a 34-year hiatus, the San Jose State University athletics department is reinstating men's water polo to its NCAA Division I sports offerings beginning in the 2015 fall semester. Gene Bleymaier, the Spartans director of athletics, made the announcement.

San Jose State discontinued its men's water polo program as an intercollegiate sport in 1981 after 45 years. The Spartans fielded one of the top teams in the country in the 1960's and early 1970's. San Jose State appeared in four NCAA Championship tournaments finishing second in 1971, fourth in 1970 and 1972 and fifth in 1973.

"In our research and discussions with alumni and friends of Spartan athletics, we found tremendous support to bring back men's water polo," says Bleymaier. "With the interest in the sport, being centrally located in a recruiting hotbed, and plans for a new Olympic-size pool on the main campus for competition and recreation, we believe San Jose State can be successful in men's water polo again."

The university's best known men's water polo player is former Los Angeles Olympics Organizing Committee chairman and Major League Baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth, a current co-owner of the Pebble Beach Corporation. Ueberroth played on the 1956 through 1958 Spartan teams. His San Jose State teammate Art Lambert was the coach of the 1968 and 1972 U.S. Olympic teams.

In the coming months, San Jose State plans to name a coaching staff and begin recruiting Division I-caliber student-athletes in the sport.

When men's water polo returns, San Jose State will be sponsoring 20 NCAA Division I sports - seven men's and 13 women's sports.