| NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship | |
| Year: | 1989 |
| Dates: | December 1989 |
| Num Teams: | 8 |
| Winners: | UC Irvine (3rd title) |
| Second: | California (13th title game) |
| Matches: | 12 |
| Goals: | 193 |
| Attendance: | 3421 |
| Scoring Leader: | Tom Warde, UC Irvine (11) |
| Award: | Dan Smoot (UC Irvine) |
| Prev Season: | 1988 |
| Next Season: | 1990 |
The 1989 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship was the 21st annual NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship to determine the national champion of NCAA men's collegiate water polo. Tournament matches were played at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana during December 1989.[1]
UC Irvine defeated two-time defending champion California in the final, 9–8, to win their third national title. Coached by Ted Newland, the Anteaters finished the season 27–6.
The Most Outstanding Player of the tournament was Dan Smoot (UC Irvine). Smoot, along with eight other players, was named to the All-Tournament Team.
The tournament's leading scorer, with 11 goals, was Tom Warde from UC Irvine.
Since there has only ever been one single national championship for water polo, all NCAA men's water polo programs (whether from Division I, Division II, or Division III) were eligible. A total of 8 teams were invited to contest this championship.
| Team | Appearance | Previous | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas–Little Rock | 2nd | 1988 | |
| Brown | 10th | 1987 | |
| California | 16th | 1988 | |
| UC Irvine | 18th | 1988 | |
| UC San Diego | 1st | Never | |
| Long Beach State | 10th | 1988 | |
| Pepperdine | 7th | 1987 | |
| Stanford | 17th | 1988 |
Geoffrey Clark, Pepperdine