UCLA dismisses athletic director Martin Jarmond ahead of 2026 football season, initiating major department shakeup

UCLA has dismissed athletic director Martin Jarmond, according to a report published Monday by Yahoo Sports, with the move coming days before the 2026 football season begins. The decision marks a notable reset for a department that has been under heavy scrutiny during Jarmond’s six-year tenure, a period described as filled with criticism.

In the report, UCLA chancellor Julio Frenk is identified as the person who made the change, ending Jarmond’s run as the public face of Bruins athletics. Jarmond’s departure indicates that the university is looking for a different approach to managing high-profile expectations across revenue sports, including football and men’s basketball.

The same report says UCLA will bring in a former Lakers executive as part of the athletic department shakeup. While the announcement’s operational details are not fully laid out in the account, the hiring direction suggests the university is prioritizing front-office-style decision-making and business operations experience as it prepares for the new season.

For UCLA, the timing is consequential because athletic directors typically coordinate offseason priorities that affect football camp planning, staff management and recruiting logistics, even if the on-field work remains the responsibility of the coaching staff. A leadership change in the days leading up to the season can also affect how quickly the department sets budgets, communications strategy, and performance expectations for the year.

The dismissal also highlights a broader reality in modern college athletics: leadership stability is often judged not only by wins, but by how well departments navigate compliance, public relations, fundraising and the constant pressure of maintaining competitiveness in the major conferences. In that context, the report’s characterization of persistent criticism during Jarmond’s tenure implies the university believed the department needed to change course.

UCLA’s next athletic director will be tasked with bridging the offseason into a full season cycle. That includes maintaining recruiting momentum and ensuring that football and basketball operations remain coordinated, even as the department undergoes a transition in leadership and management style.

What to watch next is whether UCLA clarifies the scope of the new executive role and the timeline for naming an official athletic director successor. The university’s communications approach in the early weeks could also be a clue to how the department plans to address the criticism that accompanied Jarmond’s tenure.