UCLA replaces athletic director Martin Jarmond with Tim Harris

UCLA has fired athletic director Martin Jarmond and appointed former Los Angeles Lakers executive Tim Harris as the new CEO and director of athletics. UCLA chancellor Julio Frenk announced the leadership change on Monday, citing a significant and unsustainable financial deficit within the athletics department.

During Jarmond’s six-year tenure, the department faced substantial financial challenges, including a total deficit of $241.1 million that required a university bailout. Frenk stated that the university must transition to a model that supports itself through generated revenue while navigating the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation and changing student-athlete models.

Harris, a UCLA alumnus with over 35 years of experience in Lakers business operations, will serve in the role on a pro bono basis effective immediately. He is tasked with developing new strategies for revenue growth through partnerships and licensing. The university is expected to eventually conduct a national search for a permanent replacement.