GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Longtime University of Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley, one of the most successful college sports leaders in the country, is retiring.
The school announced the decision Monday, saying he will officially step down Oct. 1.
Foley, 63, informed his staff and head coaches of the move Monday, calling it quits after 40 years at Florida.
"As difficult as a decision it has been to make, I know the time is right," Foley said in a news release.
Foley started in the ticket office and took over as AD in 1992. He will remain at Florida as emeritus athletic director for the duration of his current contract.
"I firmly believe that after 25 years with one leader, new thoughts and new ideas will continue to move this program forward," Foley said.
Florida President Dr. Kent Fuchs thanked Foley for his years of service and commitment to the Gators.
"Jeremy's amazing accomplishments as athletics director are well known, and the university is very grateful to him for the national championships, a winning sports program that is highly ranked year after year and the growth of women's sports," Fuchs said. "Jeremy also has a well-deserved reputation for recruiting the nation's most talented coaches and building an athletic association that is recognized as among the very best in the country."
Although he didn't hire former football coach Steve Spurrier, Foley brought a distinguished list of coaches to Gainesville while building one of the top programs in the Southeastern Conference and the country.
"I firmly believe my time as athletics director is ending so that I can move into the next phase of my life, and I eagerly look forward to this next phase," Foley said. "But I'll still be watching and cheering, because I'll always be a Gator."