STORRS, Conn. (December 26, 2005) - University of Connecticut head football coach Randy Edsall announced on Monday the hiring of Mike Foley as offensive line coach. In that regard, Foley replaces Norries Wilson who was named the head coach of Columbia University on Dec. 12.

 

"I am pleased to bring Mike Foley to our football program at UConn," Edsall says. "He has had success coaching the offensive line and developing offenses through out his years of coaching.  His experience and success coaching the offensive is second to no one.  His offensive lines have always demonstrated physical toughness and discipline and are very sound both fundamentally and technique wise."

 

Foley recently completed his 21st season of involvement with the football team at his alma mater, Colgate University. He had served as the Raiders' offensive coordinator and offensive line coach since 1997. In 2005, the Raiders posted an 8-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs, losing their opening round game at No. 1 New Hampshire. Foley has helped coach all seven of Colgate's NCAA Playoff squads, including the 2003 team that advanced to the national championship game before falling to Delaware. Foley has also played a role in each of Colgate's five Patriot League Championship teams (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005).

 

Colgate has broken the league record for rushing yardage three times under his tutelage, and led the Patriot League five out of the last nine seasons. During his tenure as offensive coordinator (since 1997) Foley has produced 39 all-Patriot League players including 13 on the offensive line.

 

He began his coaching career as offensive line coach at Bates College in 1978, before moving the next fall to Dartmouth as the freshman offensive line coach for one season.

 

After one season as offensive line coach at Holy Cross in 1980, he returned to his alma mater as junior varsity head coach and varsity receivers coach. After two seasons in that position, he took over as offensive line coach in 1983. Foley added the duties of offensive coordinator in 1984.

 

In 1986, he served as interim head coach during the absence of head coach Fred Dunlap, who was recovering from bypass surgery.  Following Dunlap's retirement in 1987, Foley was named head coach of the Raiders, a title he held through 1992.

 

He returned to the Hamilton, N.Y. campus in 1997 as offensive coordinator and line coach after three years on the Harvard staff. While with the Crimson, he served as offensive coordinator during his entire stay.

 

He was a four-year letterwinner at Colgate and captain of the 1977 team. A three-year starter at center, he was twice honored as an all-East performer by the Associated Press and in 1977 was also named to the ECAC All-East squad.  In 2004, Foley was inducted into Colgate's Athletic Hall of Honor.

 

Foley, 50 years old, was born October 5, 1955 in Kittery, Maine. He graduated from Colgate University in 1978 with a degree in economics.

 

He and his wife, Kathleen, are the parents of daughter, Erin (25), and son, Patrick (23), who is the linebackers coach at Amherst College.