08/31/26 07:06:00
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08/31 19:04 CDT UCLA ousts athletic director Martin Jarmond, taps former Lakers
executive Tim Harris to replace him
UCLA ousts athletic director Martin Jarmond, taps former Lakers executive Tim
Harris to replace him
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- UCLA fired athletic director Martin Jarmond on Monday and
replaced him with Tim Harris, the former longtime president of business
operations for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The shake-up was announced in a letter from Chancellor Julio Frenk to the
university community. Frank described it as a "new path forward for UCLA
Athletics."
Jarmond, who had the job for six years, leaves immediately. The Bruins won
three NCAA championships last season, including the first by the women's
basketball team.
Harris, 64, will have the title of CEO and athletic director and work on a pro
bono basis, Frenk wrote. Harris graduated from UCLA in 1989 with a sociology
degree and played goalkeeper for the men's soccer team while in Westwood.
Harris spent over 35 years with the Lakers and left the NBA franchise in
February, four months after the Buss family sold it to Los Angeles Dodgers
owner Mark Walter. Harris was among Lakers governor Jeanie Buss' inner circle
who received a major financial bonus after the sale. The team was recently sold
again.
Jarmond, 46, replaced Dan Guerrero as AD in 2020. He signed a five-year
contract extension in May 2024. During his tenure, the athletic department has
run yearly deficits for seven consecutive years, totaling $241 million in
shortfalls.
UCLA joined the Big Ten Conference two years ago, raking in millions of dollars
in media rights fees while also facing increased travel expenses. Its deficit
was reduced to $21.6 million for the 2025 fiscal year. The university has
repeatedly bailed out the athletic department to keep it afloat.
Frenk cited the financial situation as a reason for the change.
"UCLA Athletics currently carries a significant financial debt, and its current
path is not sustainable," Frenk wrote. "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 mentioned the rapid transformation of college sports in recent years,
propelled by name, image and likeness deals that allow athletes to earn money.
"UCLA must have an athletics model that leads --- not just keeps pace," he
wrote.
Jarmond won't be around to see the debut of his last major coaching hire. Bob
Chesney arrived in early December from James Madison to reinvigorate UCLA's
moribund football program. The Bruins open the season at California on Saturday.
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