Jeremy N. Foley (born December 1, 1952 in Washington, D.C., USA) is the athletic director for the Florida Gators athletic program at the University of Florida. He has served in this role since 1992, and has been responsible for some of Florida's most notable hires since, including Urban Meyer as head football coach in 2004 and Billy Donovan as men's basketball coach in 1996. The sports program has finished as the top-ranked overall program in the Southeastern Conference in all but one year under his tenure. The 2005-06 ranking was 2nd overall, behind Georgia. On June 22, 2007, Foley agreed to a 11-year deal worth up to $1.2 Million annually with bonuses, making him the highest paid athletic director in the country and keeping him in Gainesville until retirement age. "Jeremy's contract is what you would expect for the best athletic director in the nation," Florida President Bernie Machen said.
Foley was raised in New London, New Hampshire and graduated from the Holderness School in 1970, then attended Hobart College in Geneva, New York, where he majored in Psychology and received his BA in 1974. He also earned a Master's Degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
Foley started his ascent to the top as an intern with the ticket office at UF in August, 1976. When his internship ended, Foley was hired as a full-time employee and was soon promoted to Ticket Manager. Two years later he was named Director of Ticket and Game Operations. After just one additional year, he became an Assistant Athletic Director and spent the next 12 years learning every facet of athletics at UF. From 1981-1986 Foley's title was Associate Athletic Director for Business Affairs.
Bill Carr was appointed UF Athletic Director in 1979 at age 33, younger than all the head coaches at Florida. When Carr left in 1986, Jeremy Foley was named the Interim Athletic Director. The A.D. search committee selected an older, more experienced person when they hired Bill Arnsparger in 1987. Jeremy Foley was disappointed, but he bided his time, accepting the title of Senior Associate Athletic Director. Over the next five years, Arnsparger made many of the same mistakes that led to Carr's departure, proving that experience was not the missing quality, it was good judgement. Arnsparger resigned in 1992, and at age 39, Foley was named the Florida Athletic Director.
Jeremy Foley's tenure with UF has not always been a bed of roses. He gets credit for his "brilliant" hiring of Meyer and Donovan, but Foley also hired some coaches who didn't work out well, including Head Football Coach Ron Zook. When Foley fired Zook midway through the 2004 season, it was shocking. Professional teams fire coaches during the season because it's a business. It was unheard of in college sports unless the coach committed some outrageous act of stupidity. Foley stated that it was best for the University.
According to the fan site, OrangeandBluehue.com, "It resulted in Florida being able to snag Urban Meyer and changed the way many athletic departments think about mid-season firings. It is now done more often, so that the program in question gets a chance to get a jump on the competition."
As Athletic Director, no one questions Foley's dedication and enthusiasm. He personally attends many athletic competitions for all sports on campus and travels with UF teams for significant events. Foley's leadership has resulted in a Florida athletic program that is consistently one of the nation's finest. During his tenure, Gator teams have won over 60 Southeastern Conference championships, and eight NCAA championships. In addition to the department's success on the playing field, it is one of the few athletic programs in the nation that not only supports itself, but returns a profit to the university. Finally, during Foley's tenure as A.D., 63 student-athletes have attained Academic All-America honors--the fourth highest total among universities during that interval of time.
One Foley's responsibilities as Florida Athletic Director is to act as Chief Financial Officer for the University of Florida Athletic Association (UAA), the non-profit organization that is responsible for maintaining the intercollegiate athletic program for the Florida Gators. In that capacity, he has been directly involved with $180 million in capital improvements, including two major expansions of the football stadium, the addition of a multipurpose fieldhouse on campus and new facilities for tennis, track & field, soccer, baseball, golf, softball and swimming.Foley oversees an annual budget of $76.6 million. Jeremy Foley is particularly proud of the athletic program's academic success. "The national average for student-athlete graduation is around 76 percent," he said. "At UF, 92 percent of student-athletes graduate.
Foley is an ardent runner and has competed in the Boston Marathon several times. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Gator Boosters, Inc.
In 1995, Foley was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Sports Administration and Facility Management Department at Ohio University.
The UF Alumni Association Board of Directors named Foley an Honorary Alumnus in October of 2000.
From 1997-2002, Foley served on the NCAA Division I Management Council, the most powerful group (below the Board of Directors) within the NCAA.
In June of 2006, Foley was named the Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal "National Athletics Director of the Year".
The National Football Foundation bestowed the John L. Toner Award upon Jeremy Foley in 2007. The annual award is given to a director of athletics who has demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics and particularly college football.
The Holderness School, a small, private, college preparation school in Plymouth, New Hampshire presented Jeremy Foley, class of 1970, with their 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award on November 28, 2007.
On April 25, 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.
