Ed Foley
Edward Charles Foley Jr. is an American football coach and former player. He was the assistant special teams coach for the Carolina Panthers from until mid-2022, working under head coach Matt Rhule, who he had previously worked with at Temple University. Prior to coaching the Panthers, Foley primarily coached college football, including head coach positions at Fordham University and Temple University.
Early years
Raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Foley graduated from Cherry Hill High School East.Foley was a three-year starter at Bucknell University, playing one season as a guard and two as a center. During his junior year, he was named the Bison's top lineman. As a senior, he served as the team's captain.
Coaching career
Early coaching career
Foley coached the offensive line at University at Albany, SUNY from 1989 to 1990. He served as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1993, and again from 1995 to 1997. At Penn, Foley coached tight ends and tackles for five years and helped the Quakers to a perfect 10–0 record and an Ivy League championship in 1993. Foley was the offensive line coach for Williams College in 1994. Foley spent the 1998 season as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Jacksonville University, the first time the university sponsored football. His Dolphin offense averaged 380 passing yards and 30.1 points per game.Fordham
Foley coached the Fordham Rams for seven seasons, including two seasons as head coach. As Fordham's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Foley helped rejuvenate a program that won the Patriot League championship in 2002 with a 10–3 record.In 2000, Foley's offense established a running game that set a team record for most rushing yards in a single. In 2001, the Fordham offense had its first 1,000-yard rusher and first-ever 1,000-yard receiver on the NCAA Division I-AA level. That year Rams had the second-ranked passing offense in the Patriot League and the second-best scoring offense as well.
In 2002, Fordham led the Patriot League in passing and scoring offense, while finishing second in total offense, and setting a team record for most points in a season. In addition to winning the Patriot League title, the Rams advanced to the NCAA I-AA Playoffs, where they defeated the Northeastern Huskies in the first round.
In 2003, six members of the Rams offense were named to the All-Patriot League Team, including four whom were named to the first team. The Rams broke the team record for most rushing yards in a season for the second time in Foley's tenure, while also setting a school record for most pass completions in a season.
As head coach, Foley had a 7–15 record over two seasons with a 4–8 conference record. Foley's short tenure as head coach was due to his poor record and not endearing himself to his players.