WAYNE, N.J. – Kristen Foley, an accomplished athletic administrator and coach for more than three decades, has been appointed William Paterson University's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation.
 
In this newly-created role, Foley will oversee all operations of both the Pioneers' NCAA intercollegiate athletics program, and the University's recreational services, intramurals and club sports offerings.
 
Foley had been serving as WP's Interim Director of Athletics since February 2021, after fulfilling the role of Associate Director of Athletics for the Pioneers since July 2017. As interim director, she guided the Athletics Department through the Covid pandemic, and all 13 intercollegiate teams were able to compete during the spring of 2021.
 
"I would personally like to thank Vice President for Student Development, Dr. Miki Cammarata, and President Richard Helldobler for the tremendous opportunity to lead the Department of Athletics and Recreation," said Foley. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my last four years here at William Paterson working with our amazing student-athletes, coaches and staff. Former Athletic Director Sabrina Grant was one of the best in the business, and I was very fortunate that she selected me as her associate and I am thankful for all her knowledge and wisdom over the years. I look forward to continuing her great work and building this program as we merge Athletics with our outstanding Recreational Services and staff.
 
"I am also extremely blessed to have been in the company of some amazing mentors throughout my career," she continued. "Theresa Grentz, Bill Bradshaw, Don Dijulia and Dave O'Brien have all been important parts of my journey and helped prepare me for this moment. I couldn't be more excited for the future of William Paterson Athletics and Recreation."
 
"I am thrilled to have someone of Kristen's caliber, dedication and experience leading our new department of Athletics and Recreation," said Vice President Cammarata. "I am confident that she and the staff will continue to build on already strong programs and services, with student well-being and success at the core of what they do."
 
Prior to coming to Wayne, Foley returned to the sidelines as a women's basketball assistant at Division I Lafayette College for two seasons. Her previous coaching stints were at Temple University, Drexel University, Rutgers University and Boston University.
 
Foley began her athletics administration career at Temple where she served in a variety of positions, the last as senior associate athletic director/senior woman administrator from 2011-15. She managed the day-to-day operations for eight programs and oversaw the teams' budgeting, scheduling, fundraising, alumni and donor relations, purchasing and personnel/coach development and evaluation.
 
From 2005-11, Foley was the Owls' associate athletic director/senior woman administrator and provided administrative oversight for 15 different programs, and she also served as Temple's assistant athletic director/SWA for five years (2000-05), overseeing 12 programs as well as the Office of Academic Support for Student-Athletes and the Office of Compliance. She was also involved with strategic planning and departmental policy creation and implementation, served as the University ombudsperson, revised and monitored the department's five-year gender equity plan, and coordinated facility upgrades and renovations as a member of the senior management team.
 
She has served on a number of national committees including NCAA Men's Gymnastics (2013-15), NCAA Men's Fencing (chair, 2004-06) and NCAA Women's Basketball Rules (2002-06). In addition, Foley was the tournament director for the 2003 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship and a three-time tournament manager for the NCAA Women's Basketball Championships (2011 and 2005 regionals, 2004 first/second rounds). In 2005, she received the All-America Football Foundation's Outstanding Associate Director Award.
 
As a student-athlete, Foley helped lead Rutgers to the 1986 and 1987 NCAA Women's Basketball Elite Eights as a team captain, was a 1987 GTE/College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) academic all-American and was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. She completed her bachelor's degree at Rutgers in 1986, and a master's in educational administration in 1991, and returned to her alma mater in 1995 to be inducted into the Rutgers Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. 
 
Foley succeeds Sabrina Grant, who retired after nearly 38 years spent at William Paterson, the last 18 as the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

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