Tag: Martin Jarmond

UCLA extends Martin Jarmond through 2029

Jarmond staying put!

The UCLA Bruins let Athletic Director Marton Jarmond hire DeShaun Foster after Chip Kelly left for Ohio State.

Now, UCLA is extending Jarmond with a three-year extension, per Pete Thamel of ESPN. 

“Sources: UCLA has extended athletic director Martin Jarmond for three years, a deal that runs through 2029. Since Jarmond arrived in 2020, UCLA has won 18 conference titles, five national titles and moved to the Big Ten. Jarmond also spearheaded UCLA’s deal with Nike and Jordan Brand during his tenure. Jarmond is the former athletic director at Boston College and worked at Ohio State and Michigan State prior to BC.”

Jarmond has done well in his time in Westwood, bringing home 18 conference titles between various sports.

Now, UCLA is in its first year in the Big Ten Conference, and the football team has won three in a row after a poor 1-5 start.

Nonetheless, UCLA has decided to keep Jarmond on board through 2029.

UCLA Bruins add new atheltic director staffer

UCLA’s newest hire looks to improve the athletic department’s profitability.

There is a new face in Westwood for the Bruins athletic department. This week, the Bruins named Daniel Cruz the Athletics Deputy AD and Chief Revenue Officer, according to David Woods of 247 Sports.

Despite the recent struggles of the Bruins football team, UCLA remains a marquee program in the NCAA with success in women’s and men’s basketball, gymnastics, and softball. Cruz, the former Spotify, ESPN, and MindShare employee, looks to bring an entrepreneurial and innovative approach to UCLA’s athletic department.

UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond praised the hiring of Cruz and his potential impact at the university saying, “In the midst of transformational change in collegiate athletics, (Cruz’s) forward-thinking and innovative approach is going to help us optimize revenue generation on every level to better support our student-athletes.”

Given the sudden and long overdue overhaul of student-athlete rights, big-name programs like UCLA have opportunities to grow their revenue and influence while fairly compensating their players.

Moreover, the ability to market the now-Big Ten school can attract a wider array of athletes to UCLA, potentially improving the product in the gym, on the floor, and on the field.

UCLA game ball given to DeShaun Foster in win over Hawaii

DeShaun Foster was given the game ball from his Athletic Director Martin Jarmond.

While not everyone who follows UCLA football is happy, in the end, the Bruins are 1-0 heading to their bye week. The UCLA Bruins outscored the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 16-3 in the second half to win their opener. Athletic Director Martin Jarmond came into the locker room following the win and awarded the game ball to head coach DeShaun Foster.

As mentioned, it was the first win of his career for Foster. Both Jarmond and Foster are 44 years old, and both looking to build the Bruins football culture. Jarmond has been the athletic director at UCLA since 2020. He played college basketball at UNC Wilmington from 1997-2001. Before his time at UCLA, he was at Michigan State, Ohio State and Boston College.

https://twitter.com/latbbolch/status/1830092103780909147

The win for the Bruins came after a Mateen Bhaghani field goal with just under 1:00 to go in the game. It was his third field goal of the half. He finished with 91 yards of field goals. The lone touchdown came to start the second half as Ethan Garbers hit Rico Flores Jr for a 39-yard strike.

Flores Jr. was the start of the offense with 102 yards and the score. The run game for the Bruins was not sharp, with just 71 yards on 20 carries.

Martin Jarmond pens statement after Bill Walton’s passing

UCLA AD released statement on Bill Walton.

The UCLA Bruins athletic department is still processing the loss of Bruins legend Bill Walton. Both basketball coaches Mick Cronin and Cori Close delivered statements after the news came of his passing.

Athletic director Martin Jarmond also penned a lengthy statement about the UCLA legend:

“We are stunned and saddened about the news of Bill Walton’s passing. Bill represented so many of the ideals that our university holds dear and embodied multiple traits on Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. He loved being back on campus at UCLA, calling games in Pauley Pavilion, and being around our teams. We offer our deepest sympathy to his family, and we take solace in knowing that Bill made each day his masterpiece.”

The community mourned the loss of Walton, a legend on the court as a player and wearing the headset as a broadcaster. It will be worth watching to see if, or how, UCLA honors Walton for the upcoming season.

DeShaun Foster, Jay Toia on hand to support Laiatu Latu at NFL Draft

DeShaun Foster and others on hand to see Laiatu Latu get drafted.

The UCLA Bruins football program saw Laiatu Latu hear his name called during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday. He went No. 15 overall to the Indianapolis Colts, ending a string of 14 straight offensive players to be selected.

And, even more impressive, is that a few Bruins coaches and players were there to support him. DeShaun Foster, defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, teammate Jay Toia, and athletic director Martin Jarmond were all there to support Latu.

DeShaun Foster is wasting no time making strong impressions in his first year as UCLA head coach, and them being there to see Latu get selected is quite something.

Latu then had his introductory press conference on Friday in Indianapolis and had plenty of things to say as his UCLA career comes to an end and he begins his NFL journey.

The Bruins contingent had to go back to LA to prepare for the Spring Game on April 27. 

UCLA AD Martin Jarmond skirts Chip Kelly question at DeShaun Foster presser

Martin Jarmond refused to answer a question about Chip Kelly at DeShaun Foster’s press conference. Well done.

To say Chip Kelly’s tenure ended poorly in Westwood with UCLA would be an understatement.

After six seasons with the Bruins, posting a 35-34 record, Kelly left UCLA for the Ohio State offensive coordinator position. Returning to the college game after a stint in the NFL, many believed Kelly would be able to turn the program around. And while the Bruins did see steady improvement in the wins and losses column as he continued coaching the Bruins, recruiting, and success in the Pac-12 never amounted to that of what Kelly enjoyed at Oregon.

At new head coach DeShaun Forest’s press conference, UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond skirted questions surrounding Kelly’s exit.

Leaving it simply at, “Today is about DeShaun and moving forward,” Jarmond’s comments revealed that Kelly’s departure was anything but pleasant.

But Jarmond had a point. The future of UCLA football begins by letting go of the past. Playing in the newly loaded BIG 10, it will be an uphill climb for the Bruins to find their foothold in the conference.

And the best way to keep moving forward is often not to look back.

Everything Martin Jarmond said after Chip Kelly left UCLA for Ohio State

Here’s what UCLA AD Martin Jarmond said after Chip Kelly left for Ohio State.

The UCLA Bruins football program saw Chip Kelly leave for the Ohio State OC position.

It puts the Bruins in a difficult spot, and one that AD Martin Jarmond has to figure out how to solve.  The pressure is on, and it began when UCLA lost out on Keona Wilhite due to Kelly’s uncertain future.

The question now remains of which direction Jarmond will go in. Will he hire a young coach? Or will UCLA bring in a veteran coach?

It’s horrible timing with the bigger head coach candidates already finding new homes.

Nonetheless, here is everything Jarmond said in his press conference on Friday after Kelly left for Columbus.