UCLA fired athletic director Martin Jarmond as the university seeks to overhaul its athletics business model amid a significant financial deficit. Chancellor Julio Frenk named longtime Los Angeles Lakers executive Tim Harris as the Bruins’ interim CEO and director of athletics. Harris, a UCLA alumnus and former student-athlete, spent more than 35 years with the Lakers, including as president of business operations, and will work pro bono while pursuing additional revenue through licensing, partnerships and other ventures. The leadership change comes five days before UCLA opens its first football season under Bob Chesney and two years after the school announced its move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, which became official in July 2024. Jarmond arrived from Boston College in 2020 and oversaw six years that included the conference change and major football turnover. UCLA owes him approximately $6.5 million on his contract, according to ESPN.