UCLA Reorganizes Athletics Leadership Amid Financial Challenges

UCLA has revamped its athletics leadership, announcing the dismissal of Athletic Director Martin Jarmond and the appointment of Tim Harris. Harris is the former president of business operations for the Los Angeles Lakers. This decision was communicated by Chancellor Julio Frenk, who described the move as a “new path forward for UCLA Athletics.” Jarmond, who served for six years, leaves his position immediately.

During his tenure, UCLA secured three NCAA championships last season. Notably, the women’s basketball team achieved their first championship victory. Harris, 64, will take on the role as CEO and athletic director without compensation. Harris, a UCLA alumnus with a sociology degree, previously served as the goalkeeper for the university’s men’s soccer team.

Harris spent over 35 years with the Lakers and departed from the NBA team in February. This departure occurred four months after the Buss family sold the franchise to Mark Walter, the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Harris was part of the inner circle with Jeanie Buss, receiving a substantial financial bonus following the sale. The Lakers experienced another ownership change recently.

Jarmond became the athletic director in 2020, succeeding Dan Guerrero. He was under a five-year contract extension signed in May 2024. His term saw the athletic department encounter yearly deficits for seven consecutive years, amounting to shortfalls of $241 million. Despite UCLA’s entry into the Big Ten Conference and the influx of media rights fees, the department faced increased travel expenses. However, the deficit was reduced to $21.6 million for the fiscal year 2025, requiring repeated financial bailouts from the university.

Chancellor Frenk emphasized the unsustainable financial debt burdening UCLA Athletics. “Now is the moment to build a model for Athletics that protects the breadth of our program, creates new opportunities for student-athletes and coaches, and supports itself through the revenue it generates,” Frenk noted.

Frenk also referred to the rapid changes in college sports, highlighting the opportunities arising from name, image, and likeness deals, which now allow athletes to earn money. “UCLA must have an athletics model that leads, not just keeps pace,” he added.

Jarmond will not witness the debut of his last significant coaching hire. Bob Chesney joined from James Madison in early December to rejuvenate UCLA’s football program. UCLA is set to start the season against California on Saturday.