Tim Harris has been appointed as the new athletic director and CEO of UCLA Athletics, replacing Martin Jarmond. The announcement was made Monday by UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, who described the move as part of a "new path forward for UCLA Athletics." Harris will serve in the role on a pro bono basis, effective immediately.
Frenk cited the evolving landscape of college athletics, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and new compensation models, as a driving force behind the change. "UCLA must have an athletics model that leads — not just keeps pace," Frenk stated in a message to the university community. He also pointed to the athletic department's substantial financial deficit, which reached $241.1 million during Jarmond's tenure and necessitated a university bailout.
"UCLA Athletics currently carries a significant financial deficit, 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."
Jarmond, who replaced Dan Guerrero in the summer of 2020, is reportedly set to receive the remaining balance of his contract, approximately $5.9 million. While Jarmond's leadership came under scrutiny, particularly regarding the athletic department's consistent deficits, he also oversaw UCLA's move to the Big Ten conference. During his six-year tenure, UCLA won nine NCAA championships, though the football team cycled through three coaches and the men's basketball team has not reached the Sweet 16 since 2023.
Harris, a UCLA alumnus and former member of the Bruin men's soccer team, has prior experience in sports management, having spent over 35 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, most recently as president of business operations. He had recently been consulting with Frenk on athletics finances. "Simply put, he loves UCLA and cares deeply about our future," Frenk said of Harris. "He brings decades of experience in creating partnerships and new sources of revenue, along with a personal focus on centering the student-athlete experience."
Jarmond's departure follows a period of increasing fan dissatisfaction, with some critics pointing to his handling of coaching hires, including the unsuccessful tenure of football coach DeShaun Foster, and his perceived slowness in embracing NIL opportunities. A data breach involving sensitive donor information in the fall of 2023 also drew criticism.
UCLA is expected to eventually conduct a national search for a permanent athletic director. In the interim, Harris is tasked with developing a new strategy to increase revenue through partnerships and other ventures while ensuring support for student-athletes and coaches.