Legendary UA Little Rock coach Joe Foley announced his retirement

Little Rock, Arkansas – Joe Foley, the coach of the UA Little Rock women’s basketball team, announced his resignation on Thursday after 37 seasons and 864 victories in his tenure.

Between his tenure as coach at Arkansas Tech and UA Little Rock, Foley became the most successful women’s collegiate basketball coach in the state of Arkansas. He also holds the 11th-most victories in NCAA women’s basketball history.

Twelve playoffs (NCAA and WNIT) appearances, five conference tournament crowns, and six regular-season conference championships were all achieved by Foley’s teams.

Athletics director at UA Little Rock Frank M. Cuervo stated that while Foley will always be missed, the Trojans and their supporters will never forget him.

“Coach Joe Foley is a legend in basketball and will always be fondly remembered by Trojan fans,” Cuervo said. “His contributions to the institution and its athletics program are too numerous to count. Coach Foley’s teams always played with grit and determination, truly exhibiting the heart of a Trojan. Likewise, he made an incredible impact on the lives of hundreds of young women who played for him and are now valued members of their community. I look forward to working with Joe to find an opportunity to keep him close to the program as he and his wife Chris enter the next phase of their lives. I wish them nothing but the happiness and success they have earned.”

The Trojans announced that Steve Wiedower, a seasoned assistant who served as Foley’s top assistant for 14 years, will assume the position of head coach.

“What a great experience it has been to work under Coach Foley for 15 years here at Little Rock. Words cannot describe the respect and gratitude I have for him,” Wiedower said. “Coach Foley built this program from the ground up into one of the top mid-majors in the country. Experiencing multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and winning conference championships under his leadership is something I will cherish forever. His dedication has been instrumental in our success, and I am deeply honored to have been a part of this journey.”

Supporters of Trojan women’s basketball are invited to attend UA Little Rock Athletics for a formal press conference on Tuesday, July 23 at 11 a.m. in the Legends Room at the Jack Stephens Center to officially welcome Wiedower as the program’s new head coach.