Big news out of the SEC this Monday morning: Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley announced his retirement, which will be effective Oct. 1 this fall. Foley has been Florida’s athletic director since 1992.
On Foley’s watch, Florida won 27 national championships in 13 sports, including three in football (1996, 2006, 2008). He was hired by Florida in 1976 and worked in various roles -- including assistant athletic director and associate athletic director -- before taking over his current post 24 years ago.
Foley’s hiring of Urban Meyer after the 2004 season produced five top-15 finishes from 2005-2009, including those BCS Championships in 2006 and 2008. With Steve Spurrier -- who was hired in 1990 -- at the helm, Florida never finished below No. 12 in the final AP poll from 1992-2001.
2006 also saw Florida become the first school to win both a football and men’s basketball championship in the same year, with Billy Donovan guiding his hoops team to an NCAA championship a few months after Meyer’s side downed Ohio State in the BCS Championship.
“I want to do what’s right for Florida,’' Foley said in an interview with Florida’s official athletics website. “That’s why I have spent a lot of time thinking it through. And I want to make sure everyone understands this is my decision. I’m not sick; I’m not dissatisfied; I’m not getting pushed. It happens to all of us. The time comes.”
Not all of Foley’s calls were good ones -- Ron Zook flamed out after three seasons and the Will Muschamp era only had one successful year out of the four he had in Gainesville. But if Jim McElwain’s first year was an indication -- a 10-4 season and SEC East title -- the last football hire made by Foley could be another good one.