UCLA has made a significant administrative change by dismissing athletic director Martin Jarmond and appointing Tim Harris as his replacement. Chancellor Julio Frenk announced this decision, characterizing it as a new direction for UCLA Athletics.
Jarmond, who served for six years, departs immediately. Under his leadership, the Bruins secured three NCAA championships last season, marking a historic victory for the women’s basketball team.
Tim Harris, aged 64, steps into his role as CEO and athletic director. Uniquely, he will work on a pro bono basis. Harris’s background includes graduating from UCLA in 1989 with a sociology degree and playing as a goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team. His career spans over 35 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he served as the president of business operations until February. Harris was closely connected with Lakers governor Jeanie Buss and benefited from a financial bonus after the team’s sale.
Jarmond, 46, was appointed as AD in 2020, following Dan Guerrero. Although he secured a five-year contract extension in May 2024, the athletic department experienced recurring annual deficits. Over seven years, these deficits amounted to $241 million. Even as UCLA joined the Big Ten Conference, benefiting from increased media rights fees, travel costs also rose, leading to a $21.6 million deficit in the 2025 fiscal year.
The university frequently had to support the athletic department financially. Frenk highlighted the financial strain as a reason for the administrative shift. He stated that UCLA Athletics carries significant debt, making the current approach unsustainable. Frenk emphasized the need for a self-sustaining athletics model that broadens the program, supports student-athletes and coaches, and generates revenue.
Frenk also pointed out the swift changes in college sports due to the new name, image, and likeness agreements which permit athletes to earn money. UCLA must not only keep up but also lead in this evolving landscape.
Jarmond’s final major coaching decision, the appointment of Bob Chesney from James Madison to revitalize UCLA’s football program, remains. The team will start their season facing California.