Foley leads pack with big raise

Jeremy Foley began his career in Gainesville in 1976, filling out orders as an intern at the school's ticket office.

A steady rise in the 31 years since has resulted in Foley becoming the highest-paid athletic director in the country among public universities. Foley, 54, has agreed in principle to an 11-year contract extension worth an average annual salary of $1 million.

"Simply put, Jeremy's contract is what you would expect for the best athletic director in the nation," Florida President Bernie Machen said.

Performance bonuses can raise the salary up to $1.2 million per year. The extension has not been finalized but was approved by the University Athletic Association's compensation committee.

"I am extremely appreciative and thankful for the support of Dr. Machen and the University of Florida," Foley said in a statement released through UF sports information. "I will continue to dedicate myself to leading the Gator athletic program and feel blessed to be a part of this great institution and community."

It's unclear where Foley's salary ranks among all colleges in the country because private schools are not required to disclose salaries of their athletic directors. Among public schools, the extension ranks Foley ahead of Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, who makes $843,834 per year. Ohio State AD Gene Smith makes a reported $625,000 and Florida State AD David Hart made $557,821 in 2006, according to The Associated Press.

Foley agreed to a contract extension in 2005 that paid him an average annual salary of $600,000.

Since being promoted to the Florida AD job in 1992, Foley has overseen unprecedented athletic success at UF. Florida teams have won 12 national championships and 77 Southeastern Conference titles during his tenure.

Most recently, Florida became the first school in history to hold Division I titles in football and men's basketball. The Gators won the 2006 BCS Championship and back-to-back championships in basketball in 2006 and 2007.

Florida rewarded its football and basketball coaches accordingly, announcing contract extensions for football coach Urban Meyer (six years, $19 million) and basketball coach Billy Donovan (six years, $21 million) earlier this month.

Off the field, Machen pointed out Foley's wide-ranging responsibilities, which include managing more than 300 employees and a $76.9 million annual budget. Florida receives no state funds, relying on revenue from booster contributions, ticket sales, licensing agreements and SEC television contracts.

"He has demonstrated strong financial results at a time when 90 percent of Division I schools are said to be losing money on intercollegiate athletics," Machen said.

Foley has directed $150 million in capital improvements, which have included construction of an $11 million men's and women's basketball practice facility and recent renovations at McKethan Stadium and the adjoining locker rooms.

Given Florida's resources, Foley has demanded excellence from his coaches, and has shown that he's not afraid to make changes. Foley fired football head coach Ron Zook, a close friend, midway through the 2004 football season after Zook failed to make a BCS bowl game in three seasons at the helm.

This year, Foley fired women's basketball coach Carolyn Peck near the end of the season after Florida fell to near the bottom of the SEC standings. Foley also fired baseball coach Pat McMahon at the end of the season after not reaching the NCAA Tournament for two straight seasons after guiding the Gators to the 2005 College World Series title game.

Foley hired Meyer to replace Zook in 2004. In 1996 Foley hired Donovan to revive a basketball program that had only achieved pockets of success.

Foley's close relationship with Donovan played a factor in the coach's decision to return to Florida after a six-day stint with the Orlando Magic. Entering his 12th season at Florida, Donovan has led the Gators to three Final Four appearances and nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Foley also has seen expansion of women's sports during his tenure, adding women's soccer in 1995, softball in 1997 and women's lacrosse in 2006. Women's lacrosse will begin play in the 2009-10 athletic season.