University of Massachusetts Boston Athletic Director Charlie Titus announced today that the University has named Jack Foley as its Head Men’s Ice Hockey Coach.

Foley is a well-known figure in the New England hockey circles, having coached for over 30 years in the area. Prior to his arrival at UMass Boston, the Hub native was the Head Boy’s Ice Hockey Coach at Thayer Academy in Braintree, MA since 1988. The appointment at UMass Boston is somewhat of a homecoming for Foley, who played his collegiate hockey at Boston State college from 1962-7 under the guidance of local legend, Ed Barry. Boston State later merged with UMass Boston.

Foley began his coaching career as an assistant at Randolph High School in Massachusetts. While coaching for RHS, he also conducted youth hockey in Randolph, and later became an assistant at Thayer Academy, where he would assist the boy’s hockey program for 18 seasons until he took over as head coach. During his time at Thayer Academy, Foley also became very active in the Massachusetts Satellite Program and was a player evaluator in the program for 12 years as well as the program’s director for eight years. Foley’s experience and respect that he earned among his peers also allowed him to coach at various clinics and national camps. He has been active as a lecturer and instructor for USA Hockey over the past 18 years as well and also serves as an area scout for the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars. In his time he has helped to develop numerous college and professional players such as Rod Langway, Tony Amonte, and J.R. Roenick.

Foley’s duties at Thayer Academy were not limited to the ice rink as he spent time as an assistant coach for the football and golf squads and also joined the academy’s faculty in 1985 as a physics teacher.

Foley graduated from Boston State in 1967 with a bachelor of science degree in education.