Mike Foley - Football Coach - University of Massachusetts Athletics

Season at Massachusetts: Third
Alma Mater: Colgate '78

College coaching veteran and New England native Mike Foley joined the Massachusetts football program as offensive line coach in March, 2016.

Foley oversaw the growth of a youthful offensive line in 2017, which did not feature a starter in their final year of eligibility and saw the addition of a host of newcomers to the rotation. The line blocked for the Massachusetts offense as it posted the third-most offensive yards per game in team history (432.8), also the greatest total since the team's elevation to FBS prior to the 2012 season.

During his first year with the program, Foley quickly developed the offensive line in 2016. The group featured eventual Phil Steele All-Independent Team selections Fabian Hoeller (C) and Michael Boland (RG, RT).

Foley spent the 2006-14 seasons working with the offensive line and tight ends at the University of Connecticut. In his first season coaching the tight ends in 2012, Ryan Griffin earned All-BIG EAST second-team honors and Griffin and John Delahunt combined to be one of the more effective tight ends duos in UConn history. Griffin was selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Foley and his offensive line were key factors in UConn's outstanding rushing game in 2009-11 as the Huskies featured two 1,000-yard rushers in BIG EAST Player of the Year and All-American Jordan Todman (2009 and '10) and Andre Dixon (2009). Lyle McCombs joined that group in 2011. In addition, center Moe Petrus was named BIG EAST First-Team All-Conference while tackle Mike Ryan was a second-team selection.

Foley and his offensive line were a key factor in Donald Brown achieving the status as the country's leading rusher in 2008. In 2008, Foley coached BIG EAST First-Team All-Conference selection Will Beatty at left tackle as Beatty later went on to play in the Senior Bowl and was selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

Prior to UConn, Foley coached at his alma mater, Colgate, where he worked variously as the head coach, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1981-2005.

In 2005, his final year at Colgate, the Raiders posted an 8-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs. Foley helped coach all seven of Colgate's NCAA playoff squads, including the 2003 team that advanced to the National Championship game.

Of the 13 seasons in which Colgate was eligible for the playoffs with Foley aboard, the team qualified seven times. Foley also played a role in each of Colgate's five Patriot League Championship teams (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005).

Colgate broke the league record for rushing yardage three times under Foley’s tutelage, and led the Patriot League five out of his final nine seasons. During his tenure as offensive coordinator (1997-2005), Foley produced 39 All-Patriot League players, including 13 on the offensive line. His offensive schemes and the line's blocking helped pave the way for a pair of Walter Payton Award winners, Kenny Gamble in 1987 and Jamal Branch in 2003.

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

During a brief stint away from Colgate, Foley spent the 1994-96 seasons on the football staff at Harvard as the offensive coordinator.

Foley 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 year 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.

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 was born in Kittery, Maine, and raised in Newburyport, Mass. He graduated from Colgate University in 1978 with a degree in economics. Foley and his wife, Kathleen, have children, Erin and Patrick.

Updated: Feb. 4, 2018

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