Jeremy N. Foley

Jeremy N. Foley, who has handled virtually every aspect of the University of Florida’s $89 million athletic program during his athletic administrative career - which began with an internship in the Gator Ticket Office in 1976 - was named UF’s Director of Athletics in March of 1992.

A man with great vision and experience, Foley, 56, brings a passionate top-to-bottom team approach to the top athletic post at the University of Florida. Foley’s philosophy involves the continued building of a comprehensive athletic program, with the goal of having the overall UF program ranked as the top athletic program in the nation.

Says Foley, who had served as UF’s Senior Associate Athletic Director since 1987 and is the longest active tenured athletic director in the Southeastern Conference, “We have an outstanding academic institution and fantastic coaches, student-athletes, administrators, facilities and fans. With hard work, patience and a commitment to excellence and integrity, we will achieve the success this University deserves.”

As chief financial officer for the University Athletic Association (UAA), Foley has spearheaded a number of capital improvement projects in the athletic department. The project lists includes two major expansions of the football stadium, a multipurpose athletic fieldhouse, new facilities for tennis, track & field, soccer, baseball, golf, softball and swimming. Foley also played a role in the academic advising center on the University of Florida campus, which serves UF students and Gator student-athletes and assisted in funding the renovation of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. A project that enhanced the football experience for Gator student-athletes, staff and visitors - was completed in July of 2008 and received platinum certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Ration System, the highest ranking available.  It is the first building in Florida and the first athletic facility in the nation to achieve platinum status.  Foley’s recent project was the lacrosse facility – a 1,500 seat-stadium offering fans a great view of this fast-paced sport – to be complete prior to the enrollment of the first Gator lacrosse class in the fall of 2009.

Foley’s commitment to the overall athletic program includes a plan of increased opportunities for women, as three women’s sports have been added under his tenure – soccer, softball and, most recently, lacrosse.

Also, in an era when the NCAA estimates 90 percent of Division I schools are losing money on intercollegiate athletics, the University of Florida Athletic Association has contributed more than $53 million since 1990 to help fund University of Florida academic endeavors.

Florida has been equally successful on the field of play and in the classroom during Foley’s administrative tenure. The Florida athletic program has ranked among the nation’s top 10 for 26 consecutive years (1983-84, 2008-09) and among the top five for 13 of the last 20 years, according to national all-sport rankings.

UF became the first program in collegiate history to own both the men’s basketball and football national titles in the same calendar year, after capturing crowns in 2006. The men’s basketball team then became the first repeat champions in their sport in 15 years after cutting the nets down again in 2007.

In all, 13 Gator athletic teams have won national titles under Foley. In 2008-09, a total of 12 teams finished in the top 10 of their respective sports, including four top-five finishes.

Foley is the only athletic director in Division I history to supervise a program that has won multiple national titles in football (1996, 2006, 2008) and men’s basketball (2006, 2007).

Foley was named the Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal National Athletic Director of the Year in June of 2006 and the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame awarded him the 2007 John L. Toner Award. The Toner Award is designed to honor and acknowledge outstanding athletics directors who have demonstrated superior administrative abilities especially in the area of college football.

In Southeastern Conference action, Florida picked up six league crowns in 2008-09 action, raising its total to 96 league titles since 1992, the top totals in the SEC over that time span. Florida turned in the league record for SEC titles in a single season (8) in 1991-92 and has twice since earned seven titles in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons.

UF’s commitment in the classroom is equally impressive. Under Foley, entering the 2008-09 season, UF student-athletes have been honored 72 times as Academic All-Americans, the fourth-highest among all Division I colleges since 1992. For the 2008-09 academic year, the University of Florida had 168 SEC Academic Honor Roll honorees, giving Florida a league-high 1,658 recipients in the last 10 seasons.

The Gator athletic coaching family, which Foley had a large part in assembling, has collected 60 SEC Coach of-the-Year awards during the last 18 years.

Florida student athletes remained involved in the community and beyond. A total of 498 UF student athletes have participated in 3,183 hours of community service in 2008-09, partnering with 17 schools, four civic organizations and 24 non-profit organizations. Florida was honored with a White House commendation for volunteerism in 1994.

Foley was named Honorary Alumnus of the University of Florida by the Florida Alumni Association Board of Directors in October of 2000.

Born in Washington, D.C., but calling New London, N.H., home, Foley received his undergraduate degree in 1974 from Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y., where he also coached and scouted for the tradition-rich lacrosse program following graduation. He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University in 1976 and then joined the Gator athletic program as an intern in the ticket office. In 1995, the Ohio Graduate School presented Foley with the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award. The Ohio University Alumni Association also awarded Foley with the Medal of Merit in September of 2008.

In  2008, the Hobart Alumni Association presented Foley with the Medal of Excellence, their highest honor, for outstanding achievements as Athletic Director at the University of Florida, which has brought honor and distinction to his alma mater.
The Holderness School, a small, private, college preparation school in Plymouth, New Hampshire presented Foley, class of 1970, with their 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award in November of 2007.

An avid sports and Boston Red Sox fan, Foley ran the Boston Marathon in a 3:39.51 clip in April of 1995 and completed the course in 3:28.10 in 1998. A dog lover and proud owner of one Labrador retriever, he is involved with the Humane Society and makes numerous personal donations and public appearances with local charities.

The Foley File

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Athletic Director (March 9, 1992 ‑ Present)
Senior Associate Athletic Director (January 1987 ‑ March 1992)
Interim Athletic Director (September 1986 ‑ January 1987)
Associate Athletic Director for Business Affairs (June 1981 ‑ September 1986)
Assistant Athletic Director (May 1980 ‑ June 1981)
Director of Ticket and Game Operations (March 1979 ‑ May 1980)
Ticket Manager (February 1977 ‑ March 1979)
Intern (August 1976 ‑ February 1977)

NOTES

• Member of Division I Management Council from 1997-2002
• Honorary Alumnus of the University of Florida
• UF ranked in top five nationally in all-sports rankings in 10 years of his 17 years at the helm of the program and in the top 10 every year (5th in 1991-92, 4th in 1992-93, 4th in 1993-94, 5th in 1994-95, 3rd in 1995-96, 5th in 1996-97, T2nd in 1997-98; 4th in 1998-99, 7th in 1999-2000, 7th in 2000-01, 3rd in 2001-02, 7th in 2002-03, 6th in 2003-04, 6th in 2004-05, 5th in 2005-06, 6th in 2006-07 and 6th in 2007-08)
• UF teams have won 12 national titles and finished in the top 10 170 times (through 2007-08 season) under the direction of Foley
• UF captured all 16 SEC All-Sports titles in his tenure and teams have won 85 SEC titles
• Served as Chief Financial Officer for Athletic Association since 1981 and helped eliminate three-quarter a million dollar debt
• University Athletic Association has contributed more than $48.2 million since 1990 to help fund University of Florida academic endeavors
• Driving force behind over $199.3 million in capital improvements
• Athletic program has added three women's varsity sports, soccer, softball and lacrosse.
• UF student-athletes have been honored 72 times as Academic All-Americans since 1992 to rank fourth among all Division I colleges during that time frame. Florida had 187 student-athletes named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2007-08
• The athletic program has continued to develop into one of the most comprehensive compliance programs in the nation involving coaches, student-athletes, athletic administration, university administrators, alumni, boosters and fans
• Gator student‑athletes, coaches and administrators have been a fixture in the community

EDUCATION
Ohio University, 1976, Masters of Education in Sports Administration
Hobart College, 1974, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

ATHLETIC EXPERIENCE
Completed Boston Marathon in April of 1995 (3:39.51) in April of 1998 (3:28.10)
Football and Lacrosse, Hobart College

DATE OF BIRTH
December 1, 1952 in Washington, D.C.

Florida SEC Championships Under Foley (88)

• 1991-92 (6#)
  • Men's Golf
  • Men's Swimming and Diving
  • Women's Swimming and Diving
  • Women's Tennis
  • Women's Indoor Track
  • Women's Outdoor Track
    
    #Foley was named interim AD in January and hired on March 9, 1992. The football and volleyball teams won SEC titles in the fall of 1991 - these are not included in the 1991-92 total for SEC titles or his overall total of 85.
    
    
• 1992-93 (5)
  • Men's Golf
  • Men's Swimming and Diving
  • Women's Swimming and Diving
  • Women's Tennis
  • Volleyball
    
• 1993-94 (5)
• Football
• Men's Golf
• Women's Swimming and Diving
• Men's Tennis
• Volleyball
  
• 1994-95 (5)
  • Football
  • Women's Golf
  • Women's Swimming & Diving
  • Women's Tennis
  • Volleyball
    
• 1995-96 (5)
  • Baseball
  • Football
  • Volleyball
  • Women's Swimming and Diving
  • Women's Tennis
    
• 1996-97 (7)
  • Football
  • Women's Indoor Track and Field
  • Women's Tennis
  • Women's Outdoor Track and Field
  • Women's Cross Country
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
    
• 1997-98 (7)
  • Baseball
  • Women's Cross Country
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Women's Tennis
  • Women's Outdoor Track and Field
  • Volleyball
    
• 1998-99 (4)
  • Men's Golf
  • Soccer
  • Women's Tennis
  • Volleyball
    
• 1999-00 (4)
  • Volleyball
  • Soccer
  • Men's Basketball
  • Men's Tennis
    
• 2000-01 (5)
  • Volleyball
  • Soccer
  • Football
  • Men's Basketball
  • Women's Tennis
    
• 2001-02 (4)
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Women's Indoor Track
  • Women's Swimming and Diving
    
• 2002-03 (5)
  • Volleyball
  • Men's Tennis
  • Women's Tennis
  • Men's Golf
  • Women's Outdoor Track and Field
    
• 2003-04 (4)
  • Volleyball
  • Men's Indoor Track and Field
  • Women's Indoor Track and Field
  • Women's Tennis
    
• 2004-05 (3)
  • Baseball
  • Men's Tennis
  • Volleyball
    
• 2005-06 (2)
  • Volleyball
  • Women's Tennis
    
• 2006-07 (6)
  • Volleyball
  • Football
  • Soccer
  • Men’s Basketball
  • Gymnastics
  • Women’s Tennis
    
• 2007-08 (5)
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Women's Golf
  • Women's Tennis
  • Softball
    
• 2008-09 (3)
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Football
• 2008-09 (6)
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Football
  • Women’s Swimming
  • Softball
  • Women’s Outdoor Track and Field