Jerry Foley took over the Susquehanna men's and women's swimming and diving programs in 2009 as the head coach. In August 2016, he was given additional duties as the Assistant Director of Athletics.
MEN
On the men's side, Susquehanna has finished as the Landmark Conference Championship runner-up seven times under Foley's leadership, including four years in a row between 2013 and 2016. He mentored the 2011-12 Landmark Men's Swimmer of the Year (Chadd Lee '13) while the men's coaching staff picked up Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2011-12.
The River Hawks have garnered five CSCAA Scholar All-America Team honors to go along with three CSCAA Scholar All-Americans. In addition, Foley coached the first male NCAA qualifier in Josh Heller '13, who competed in the 50 and 100 freestyle events at the 2012 NCAA Championships.
WOMEN
Foley has guided the women’s team to eight consecutive Landmark Conference Championships, including the 2018 conference title after besting second-place The Catholic University of America by 144 points. The SU women's coaching staff has been named Landmark Conference Coaching Staff of the Year five times overall and every season since 2014-15. Five times a Susquehanna swimmer has been named Landmark Women's Swimmer of the Year while the Women's Rookie of the Year award has come home to Selinsgrove four times.
Devin Lessard '13 became the first-ever SU swimmer (male or female) to collect NCAA All-America honors as she finished fifth in the 200 butterfly at the 2013 NCAA Championships. Christie Savard '10 qualified for the 2010 NCAA Championships in the 200 backstroke and 400 individual medley.
The River Hawks have demonstrated academic excellence as well with 16 consecutive CSCAA Scholar All-America Team awards since Fall 2010. Additionally, six females have earned CSCAA Scholar All-American accolades.
In addition, Foley has coached the Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA swim team in Sunbury since 2007. His teams have placed in the Top 10 at nationals, including winning a national championship in 2013.
Before arriving at Susquehanna, he served as the head coach at Bucknell University from 1998-2006, collecting five Patriot League titles and being named Patriot League Coach of the Year five times.
Prior to landing at Bucknell, Foley was an assistant at his alma mater, the U.S. Military Academy (1994-1998); the head coach at both Adelphi University and Long Island Aquatic Club (1989-1994), and an assistant at Deer Park High School and head coach for Deer Park Aquatics (1986-1989).
EDUCATION
- M.A. in Physical Education - Adelphi (1990)
- B.S. in Engineering - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (1984)
Updated January 10, 2019
