UCLA football kicks off new era with a ‘W’

UCLA's first football game of the season ended just about as well as a Bruin could hope, with a 45-24 win over longtime rival Cal in Berkeley on Sept. 5.

The victory provided an early jolt of excitement for fans and for the program, which has undergone a major transformation with the hire of Coach Bob Chesney in December and the appointment of Tim Harris as the new and permanent CEO and director of athletics last week.

Chesney has focused on building more than a winning football team, emphasizing a new culture centered on relationships, accountability and a sense of family - an approach that has defined his coaching career and that he expects will provide the foundation for the Bruins' sustained success.

"Coach Chesney has brought a clear vision and high standards to this program, and we are off to a great start," Chancellor Julio Frenk said. "This is a new season and a new beginning."

Harris takes on the role at a pivotal time for college sports and for UCLA, as the university works to strengthen the financial foundation of its athletics program and develop a long-term strategy to support its student-athletes, coaches and broad portfolio of teams.

Frenk and Harris will be sitting down in the coming weeks to finalize a long-term agreement, removing Harris' pro bono status, a carry-over from his initial work as a consultant.

"Intercollegiate athletics is undergoing its greatest transformation ever," Frenk said. "UCLA will reimagine its model to meet the moment while always keeping the needs and experiences of our student-athletes at the heart of that work."

Frenk said Harris' deep ties to UCLA and decades of experience as a sports executive make him a perfect fit to help guide that effort.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have someone of Tim Harris' caliber leading this next era of UCLA Athletics," Frenk said. "Tim understands UCLA, he understands the business of sports, and he shares our determination to create a model that puts student-athletes first while building a strong and sustainable future for Bruin Athletics."

Harris brings more than 36 years of professional sports and business leadership experience to the position. As president of the Lakers' business operations, he oversaw the organization's business strategy, helped negotiate one of the largest regional television agreements in sports, spearheaded the team's relationship with UCLA Health[ST3] and was instrumental in the development of the Lakers' state-of-the-art UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo.

A Southern California native, Harris was a goalkeeper for UCLA men's soccer from 1980 to 1983, earning All-American honors during his senior season. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in sociology, he played professional soccer for five seasons and represented the United States men's national team in 1985.

"UCLA shaped my life, and it is an honor to come home and serve the Bruin community," Harris said.

Harris is already finding ways to share his homecoming with other Bruins. He purchased 300 tickets for fans to attend the UCLA-San Diego State home opener this weekend at the Rose Bowl.