UCLA Fires AD Martin Jarmond Amid $241M Deficit
The university replaced Jarmond with Tim Harris, a former Los Angeles Lakers executive, just days before the start of the Bob Chesney era as head coach of the football program, citing a significant financial deficit in the athletic department
UCLA fired athletic director Martin Jarmond on Monday, citing a significant financial deficit in the athletic department. The move comes just days before the start of the Bob Chesney era as head coach of the football program.
Jarmond's replacement, Tim Harris, is a former longtime president of business operations for the Los Angeles Lakers. Harris will work as athletic director on a pro bono basis. Jarmond, who had been in the job for six years, leaves immediately and is owed $6.5 million as part of his contract buyout.
The athletic department's financial struggles have been ongoing, with yearly deficits for seven consecutive years totaling $241 million in shortfalls. The department's donor contributions have also decreased over the past three years, from $18.5 million in fiscal 2022 to $13.5 million in fiscal 2025. This is significantly lower than the Big Ten conference median of $34.1 million in 2025, with Washington raising $52.9 million in donations in the same year.
The financial situation has been a major concern for the university, with Chancellor Julio Frenk citing it as a reason for the change in athletic director. The university has repeatedly bailed out the athletic department to keep it afloat, but Frenk has stated that the current path is not sustainable and that the goal is to create a model that supports itself through the revenue it generates.
## What happens next The change in athletic director is expected to have an impact on the football program, but head coach Bob Chesney is expected to have the school's full support during his time in Westwood. Chesney is expected to usher in a new era of UCLA football, bringing a strong pedigree from his time at James Madison and Holy Cross. The school seems high on where he can take the program, and prominent boosters will support him during his time there.
The athletic department's financial struggles are a major challenge for Harris, who will need to find a way to reduce the deficit and increase revenue. The department's ability to support itself through the revenue it generates will be crucial in the coming years, and Harris will need to make significant changes to achieve this goal.
## Background UCLA's move to the Big Ten conference was supposed to bring in millions of dollars in media rights fees, but the department has still struggled financially. The university has faced increased travel expenses and has not been able to generate enough revenue to cover its costs. The athletic department's financial struggles have been a major concern for the university, and the change in athletic director is seen as a step towards addressing these issues.
The future of the athletic department will depend on Harris's ability to reduce the deficit and increase revenue. The department's ability to support itself through the revenue it generates will be crucial in the coming years, and Harris will need to make significant changes to achieve this goal. With the start of the Bob Chesney era just days away, the university will be watching closely to see how the new athletic director and head coach work together to address the department's financial struggles and bring success to the football program.
