UCLA Replaces Athletic Director Martin Jarmond With Former Lakers Executive Tim Harris

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.