The next era of Merrimack College Athletics began on Tuesday, April 15, as Joe Foley, the College’s new director of athletics, was officially introduced to the campus community.
“When we began the search for our next director of athletics, we sought an individual who embraced our vision for athletic prominence and possessed the expertise to help us achieve that vision,” Merrimack College President Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D., said at a welcome event for Foley and his family. “We found that individual in Joe Foley.”
Hopey announced Foley as the new director of athletics on April 7, following a nationwide search that began earlier this year. Foley will start his role leading Merrimack Athletics, which boasts 28 varsity programs and more than 700 student-athletes, on May 14.
“I am honored and grateful to stand before you as your next athletic director,” Foley said during the welcome event. “This is a privilege I do not take lightly and I am beyond excited to join such an incredible institution.”
During his visit to Merrimack, Foley went on a campus tour, met with Merrimack coaches, student-athletes and staff and sat down with local and Merrimack student media. He was joined throughout the day by his wife, Emily, and sons, Thomas, James and Peter.
“We’ve got three future Warriors here,” Hopey said of the Foley children after presenting them with their own Merrimack College hockey jerseys.
Foley, a Worcester, Mass. native and graduate of Northeastern University, currently serves as assistant vice chancellor for development, athletic giving and senior associate athletics director at Texas Christian University.
As TCU Athletics’ chief development officer, Foley oversaw all aspects of major giving, annual giving, stewardship, alumni relations and marketing programs through the Frog Club, the department’s principal fundraising office. In recent years, TCU saw some of its highest totals in athletic giving and new records for ticket and licensing revenues.
He previously worked at Penn State, the University of Maryland and Boston College.
“Throughout my career, one of my professional strengths has been generating revenue to support student success,” said Foley. “Our athletic department will seek to prepare students to thrive in a competitive world. And we will accomplish this by working as one, unified community in support of talented and deserving students.”
Foley comes to Merrimack as intercollegiate athletics across the country undergoes significant changes that will present new opportunities for student-athletes and colleges and universities.
Merrimack recently announced it will opt in to the landmark NCAA vs. House agreement once it is approved. As part of the settlement, institutions that opt in will be permitted to establish a revenue-sharing framework to compensate their student-athletes beginning in 2025-26.
Merrimack is wrapping up a successful first year as a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference member. So far in 2024-25, seven Merrimack teams competed in MAAC championship tournaments, with both the men’s and women’s basketball teams making it to the semifinal games of their respective tournaments.
Additionally, the men’s and women’s hockey teams made the Hockey East tournament, with the women’s team notching its fourth straight opening-round victory.
