UCLA has dismissed athletic director Martin Jarmond and appointed Tim Harris, a longtime executive with the Los Angeles Lakers and UCLA alumnus, to lead the university’s athletics department. The change was announced Monday by Chancellor Julio Frenk, who cited mounting financial challenges as the primary factor behind the leadership transition.
Jarmond’s tenure spanned more than six years and included notable achievements such as UCLA’s high-profile move to the Big Ten Conference, as well as securing 10 conference championships across various sports during the department’s inaugural season in the new league. Despite these successes, the athletic department faced significant financial strain, with a reported deficit of $51.8 million by the end of the 2024 fiscal year, prompting a university bailout.
Frenk emphasized that the current financial trajectory was unsustainable, particularly in the context of increasing expenses related to name, image, and likeness (NIL) athlete compensation. He expressed a vision for a sustainable athletics model that maintains program diversity, expands opportunities for student-athletes and coaches, and generates sufficient revenue to support itself.
“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 stated in a letter to the UCLA community. He tasked Harris with developing new revenue streams through partnerships, licensing, and other initiatives to ensure competitive support for both athletes and staff.
Football remained a persistent challenge during Jarmond’s leadership. Despite a collaborative search that resulted in the hiring of Bob Chesney as head coach—a move that has generated optimism among fans—the program struggled to gain traction. Previous coach Chip Kelly faced calls for dismissal after disappointing losses near the end of the 2023 season, but Jarmond initially opted for continuity. Kelly eventually departed for an offensive coordinator position at Ohio State.
Jarmond subsequently promoted Deshaun Foster, a popular but inexperienced running backs coach, to head coach. Foster’s tenure yielded a 5-10 record and a winless start to the 2025 season, resulting in his swift dismissal. In comparison, the football program managed only one bowl victory during Jarmond’s administration and recorded historically low attendance figures in multiple seasons.
Beyond football, UCLA teams thrived, capturing nine NCAA championships, including the women’s basketball national title last season. Still, the financial management of UCLA Athletics remained a key concern, complicated by the rising costs of maintaining highly competitive teams across all sports.
Questions remain regarding the financial terms of Jarmond’s departure, specifically whether he will receive all or part of the $5.9 million remaining on his contract, which runs through June 30, 2029.
Harris, who brings over 35 years of experience managing the Lakers’ business operations, is expected to lead efforts in revenue growth while supporting the broad spectrum of UCLA’s athletic programs amid a rapidly evolving collegiate sports landscape.