UCLA Ousts Athletic Director, Hires Ex-Laker Exec To Fill Role

LOS ANGELES, CA — Calling it part of a "new path forward for UCLA Athletics," UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk announced Monday Martin Jarmond is being replaced as the university's athletic director by former Laker executive Tim Harris.

"UCLA Athletics currently carries a significant financial deficit, and its current path is not sustainable," Frenk wrote in a message to the university community. "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. I believe UCLA should help lead the transformation of intercollegiate athletics: our future must be shaped by purpose — not by pressure."

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Jarmond had been UCLA's athletics director since 2020.

"I am grateful to Martin for his extraordinary service to UCLA and for his leadership over the past six years," Frenk wrote in his message. "During his tenure, UCLA's student-athletes continued to achieve at the highest levels, including three NCAA championship titles last year."

Frenk said he wanted to shift the direction of the athletics department in the face of the ever-changing landscape of college sports.

"We have all watched as the landscape of college athletics has transformed in recent years, driven by the introduction of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), new models for student-athlete compensation, and a rapidly changing sports marketplace. UCLA must have an athletics model that leads -- not just keeps pace," Frenk wrote.

"For generations, UCLA has produced champions and Olympic legends. We are the university of John Wooden. Our student-athletes have inspired generations of Bruins and captured the hearts of people around the world. And their achievements reflect something fundamental about UCLA: we believe that excellence has no single arena — it is found in academics, scholarly and creative work; in student athletic achievement; and in the pursuit of new possibilities. That is the tradition we want to carry forward, and that is why we must position UCLA as a leader in this evolving landscape."

Frenk praised Harris as a Bruin alum who "loves UCLA and cares deeply about our future."

"He is also a veteran sports executive who spent more than 35 years with the L.A. Lakers, including serving as its president of business operations," Frenk said. "Tim knows what it takes to grow a world-class sports organization and global brand, and he holds longstanding relationships throughout Los Angeles and globally. He brings decades of experience in creating partnerships and new sources of revenue, along with a personal focus on centering the student-athlete experience. I am especially grateful for Tim's willingness to serve UCLA on a pro bono basis.

"Tim will develop a new strategy to grow revenue through partnerships, licensing and other ventures, while ensuring that our student- athletes and coaches have the required support to compete at the highest level."