SPMT 489 with Trev Alberts: Former Gator athletic director Jeremy Foley

In this fourth installment of the SPMT 489 lecture series, Dr. Gregg Bennett was joined by former University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley via Zoom to speak to Texas A&M students about his career in athletics administration in Gainesville and more.

Topics from Jeremy Foley interview

• 00:00 - Introduction of Jeremy Foley
• 01:31 - Foley’s childhood, high school and collegiate experiences playing sports
• 03:11 - On his passion for sports being in his DNA and lessons learned through sports
• 04:05 - On learning to play lacrosse as a means to also play football at Hobart College
• 05:38 - On his education at Hobart College and Ohio University
• 08:20 - The unusual path of interning at Florida, never leaving and eventually becoming Florida’s AD
• 11:40 - Challenges, frustrations and accomplishments during his tenure as the AD at the University of Florida (1992-2016)
• 16:05 - Winning championships at Florida
• 18:02 - Comparison and differences between being a pro sports GM vs. a collegiate AD
• 18:45 - Why are sports “powerful” within our society?
• 22:52 - On using his “power” as Florida’s AD “well”
• 25:10 - Loving his job made it easy to attack it on a daily basis
• 29:23 - Outlooking on hiring coaches and the importance of coaches fitting Florida’s culture
• 35:45 - The hiring process that led to Billy Donovan
• 40:16 - Florida’s investment and success in women’s athletics
• 43:48 - Respecting Texas A&M University and its athletic department
• 47:15 - Soccer legend Abby Wambach’s time as a Florida Gator (1998-2001)
• 49:05 - On Name, Image & Likeness and its future in collegiate athletics
• 53:03 - Respecting and treating people within his organization with love and respect

About SPMT 489

The Special Topics course “The Power of Sports” will explore the multifaceted impact of sports on society, culture, and business. Through a combination of guest speakers, class discussions and professional development events, students will gain insights into the various aspects of the sports industry.