Message from Martin Jarmond
May 11, 2021 | Bruin Athletics
Bruins,
I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and in good spirits. It's been a challenging and exhausting 14 months for all of us, and while the pandemic isn't over, I hope, like me, you are starting to see that brighter days are ahead.
Believe it or not, next week will mark one year since I humbly accepted the job as your Director of Athletics, and I wanted to give you a brief update on how things have been going. It has been an incredible non-stop journey for me, as I immerse myself in all things UCLA and learn something new every day about why we can all be proud to be Bruins.
As an athletic department, we have had a lot of E.L.I.T.E days lately. In case you haven't been able to keep up, below are just some of the highlights from the past few months.
- Men's Water Polo –National Championship (12th in program history; 119th NCAA title for UCLA)
- Men's Basketball – Final Four
- Women's Soccer – Pac-12 Championship
- Women's Tennis – Pac-12 Championship
- Beach Volleyball – Pac-12 Championship
And we're not done yet. With our women's tennis, men's and women's golf, and women's water polo teams currently pursuing national championships, and softball, baseball, rowing and track & field soon to join them, we can expect more excitement in the coming months. I hope you will be along for the ride, whether in person, online, watching on TV, or simply by showing your support on social media.
Of course, at UCLA we have more than just championships to be proud of. Our student-athletes, coaches and staff have done an incredible job maintaining a low COVID-19 positivity rate. And with Los Angeles County having now moved into the Yellow Tier, we are a step closer to welcoming all of you back to campus!
Bruins continue to use their platforms to raise their voices on social justice issues. Across the department, teams are wearing uniform patches featuring the words "Stand Together" "Equality" "Justice" and "Respect". This season, members of the women's basketball team created More Than a D.R.E.A.M., an initiative to educate our community on racial justice, and the gymnastics team hosted a Black Excellence meet to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of the Black community.
Next month, we'll proudly witness yet another class of UCLA student-athletes graduate from the nation's top public institution, having persevered through one of the most difficult years in our history. And on July 1, we will launch our much-anticipated partnership with Jordan Brand and Nike.
As conditions improve and additional restrictions are lifted, I can't wait to meet more of you in person, and I'm looking forward to the feeling of doing the 8-clap surrounded by throngs of Bruin fans. In the meantime, I'd love to hear how you are doing. Please feel free to write me at:
Martin Jarmond
Alice & Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics
J.D. Morgan Center
325 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Thank you for an incredible year for me and my family, and thank you for welcoming us into the Bruin Family.
Go Bruins!
Martin
