UCLA Athletics to Receive $17.3M from Alumnus Larry Layne
January 13, 2026 | Bruin Athletics
A former student-athlete and coach at UCLA, Layne was a lifelong fan of multiple Bruin sports and a UCLA donor across six decades. He built a strong connection to UCLA that dated back to the 1970s when he enrolled in what is known today as the UCLA Anderson School of Management. While he had an interest in business, Layne's desire to join UCLA's top-ranked rugby team under the direction of legendary coach Dennis Storer first attracted him toward becoming a Bruin.
"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for Larry's longstanding history of generosity to both campus and the athletic department, including this transformational gift," said Martin Jarmond, UCLA's Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics. "I am fortunate to have spent time with Larry and get to know his deep passion for UCLA Athletics, particularly his desire to help our football and men's basketball programs thrive in this new era of collegiate sports. His investment in our programs positions us, and future generations of Bruin athletes, for long-term success."
Layne's $17.3 million commitment to the UCLA Department of Athletics stands as the largest portion of his more than $40 million bequest. This includes $9.6 million directed to the football program and $7.7 million to the men's basketball program.
"As a former UCLA student-athlete and coach, Larry fully understood the hard work and determination that was needed to be at his best both on and off the field, and this incredibly generous gift will make a big impact on helping us build a championship football team," said UCLA head football coach Bob Chesney. "I am very grateful to Larry and his wife Sheelagh for their support of UCLA and our football program. We will make sure that Larry's legacy lives on by continuing to support our student-athletes and upholding our university's True Bruin values."
In addition to his contributions to UCLA Athletics, this pledge will include $11.4 million to UCLA Health, and specifically assisting research in the fields of cardiology and hepatology. The UCLA Anderson School of Management will benefit from $5.7 million to support entrepreneurial and real estate studies. Men's rugby, in which Layne avidly participated while at UCLA, will receive $3.8 million. In addition, one gift of $1.9 million will enrich the offerings of UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance.
"I would like to thank Larry for his generosity and long-time support of our athletics department, specifically toward our men's basketball program," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "This university has so many fantastic resources for its student-athletes, but we simply would not be able to thrive if not for the generosity of our many loyal donors such as Larry. His generous gift will help us in the future as we continue to build a basketball program with elite young men who all of our fans can be proud to support."
Layne's involvement with rugby provided him with a strong foundation to build relationships and eventually establish Nova Storage, which specialized in the acquisition and brokering of real estate, construction and property management. As his business grew, so too did his philanthropy to UCLA. This gift extends decades of philanthropy by Layne and his widow, Sheelagh Boyd. Over the years, the couple supported the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, Student Affairs, the Chancellor's Greatest Needs fund, the Hammer Museum at UCLA and other areas with more than 300 gifts to the campus.
From the start, UCLA Athletics has been a consistent focus of Layne's giving. His first donation was to the UCLA Women's Rugby Club fund in 1979. In addition, Layne also served as the first coach of the Bruin women's team. Later, he supported the renovation of Pauley Pavilion and provided an early gift for a state-of-the-art football training facility that ultimately became the Wasserman Football Center. Layne also donated to UCLA's baseball, softball, women's tennis and men's water polo programs. In all, he is credited with nearly 100 gifts to UCLA Athletics, totaling $18.8 million in support.
Layne also sought to power discoveries in the health sciences through his philanthropy. With a portion of Layne's gift targeted to UCLA Anderson and the fields of entrepreneurship and real estate, he left a legacy of support for those keen to follow in his professional footsteps.
