Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley announces retirement

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley, who became one of the most respected voices in college sports as he helped build powerhouse programs in football and men’s basketball, announced Monday that he will retire in October.

Foley, 63, has been the school’s athletics director since 1992 and worked at the school since 1976. Among his most notable achievements was plucking basketball coach Billy Donovan out of Marshall at just 31 years of age, a prescient hire that earned the school two national titles and four appearances in the Final Four. He also hired Urban Meyer following the 2004 season to resurrect the school’s football program after the disastrous Ron Zook era. Two years later, Florida won the BCS national championship and did it again in 2008.

Foley’s detractors would point out that his football hires were hit-and-miss. While Meyer was clearly a success, Foley also hand-picked Zook to replace the legendary Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp in 2010 after Meyer left. Muschamp was fired four seasons later with a 28-21 record.

Foley was also slow to push Florida forward in the facilities arms race until recently with the construction of an indoor practice complex for football and a renovation of the basketball arena.

Still, he leaves a legacy of significant success across several major sports, with 27 total national championships under his watch.

In an athletics department news release, Foley said he will remain as “emeritus athletic director” per his contract agreement and will oversee the transition to new leadership over the next 3½ months.

"I want to do what's right for Florida,'' Foley said. "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."