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Cal Athletic Director Jim Knowlton to Step Down as Larson and Simon-O’Neill Take Helm

Chancellor Rich Lyons tapped two former deputies to navigate Cal Athletics’ shift into revenue-sharing under a $29.7 million shortfall

University of California-Berkeley Athletics Director Jim Knowlton poses with women's basketball head coach Charmin Smith during her introduction as a new hire at a news conference June 25, 2019, in Berkeley, Calif.
Jim Knowlton speaks after being introduced by Chancellor Carol Christ as the new Athletic Director at UC Berkeley at a press conference in the California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., on Monday, April 9, 2018. (Laura A. Oda/Bay Area News Group)
Jim Knowlton

Overview

  • Jim Knowlton will retire as UC Berkeley’s athletic director on July 1 after seven years marked by 10 national championships and lingering struggles in football and men’s basketball.
  • Jay Larson and Jenny Simon-O’Neill, both previously deputy athletic directors, were named co-leaders of Cal Athletics in place of Knowlton.
  • Since March, Ron Rivera has overseen the football program with a direct reporting line to Chancellor Rich Lyons, diminishing Knowlton’s authority over the Bears.
  • Cal Athletics reported a $29.7 million budget shortfall in the 2023-24 fiscal year and must fund new athlete revenue-sharing requirements approved in the House v. NCAA settlement.
  • Cal’s transition into the ACC combined with NIL rights and the transfer portal is reshaping recruiting strategies and competitive priorities across all sports.