Brendan Foley is entering his third season on Chris Mudge’s coaching staff. He joined the staff in May of 2023 and brings 17 years of college coaching experience.
Foley helped lead Sam Houston to a regular season Conference USA outright championship in its inaugural season after being picked 6th in the preseason poll. The Bearkats went 13-3 in conference play including a perfect 8-0 home record at the Bernard Johnson Coliseum. Overall, the Bearkats amassed 21 total wins. Foley helped coach and develop Lamar Wilkerson, who was named a first team All-C-USA member, Davon Barnes, who was named a second team All-C-USA member, and Cameron Huefner, who was named honorable mention.
Prior to Sam Houston State Foley spent three seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University at Buffalo. During the 2022-23 season Foley recruited three of the top 10 transfers in the MAC conference. He worked specifically with guards and wing players. Foley coached Jeenathan Williams for two season who is now playing in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. Foley also recruited and coached Curtis Jones who was a first team All Big 12 and Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year in 2025.
In 2021-22, Foley helped the Bulls to a 19-11 record. Along with a trip to the MAC Tournament, Jeenathan Williams was named to the first team All-MAC list, as Ronaldo Segu and Josh Mballa were second team All-MAC honorees.
In the 2020-21 season, Foley helped lead the Bulls to a 16-9 record in a COVID-19 shortened season. The Bulls earned a trip to the MAC Championship game and an appearance in the NIT, just the second in school history. Three UB players earned second-team All-MAC honors, Jeenathan Williams was named a second team All-MAC member, Jayvon Graves was also named a second team All-MAC member, and Josh Mballa was named a member of second team All-MAC and the MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Before joining Jim Whitesell’s coaching staff at Buffalo, Foley served as the head coach of Chipola College, one of the top JUCO programs in the nation. While at Chipola he was named one of the 50 most impactful coaches in men's JUCO basketball. During his time as the head coach the Indians were nationally ranked in the NJCAA top 10 both season and climbed in the top 5 during the 2019-20 season.
During the 2018-19 season, Foley led the Indians to a 27-5 overall record and were runners-up in the Panhandle Conference with a 9-3 finish. They made an appearance in the Region VIII tournament for the second consecutive year. The Indians were ranked in 11-of-12 NJCAA Top 25 polls climbing as high as seventh nationally. Off the court, the Indians were active in the community and the team boosted over a 3.0 team GPA, which included six members on the FCSAA All-Academic team.
As an assistant coach during the 2016-17 season, Foley was named the second-ranked Junior College Assistant Coach in the country by Coachstat.net. During his tenure at Chipola, he has helped graduate and move over 40 players to the Division I level.
Foley helped coach the 2013-14 Indians to a 26-6 record, and a Panhandle and Region VIII championship. The Indians advanced to the NJCAA Elite Eight.
The Indians maintained a Top 10 ranking in the NJCAA throughout the 2013-14 season, climbing to a No. 1 ranking in January 2014. Foley also helped coach Sam Cassell Jr., who was selected as a first team NJCAA All-American.
Foley helped coach the 2012-13 Indians to a 26-5 record and Top 15 national ranking in the NJCAA. Chipola also made an appearance in the FCSAA Region VIII tournament.
Prior to arriving at Chipola, Foley served as assistant coach at Santa Fe College (Gainesville, Florida) from 2008-12. While at Santa Fe, he helped coach the 2011-12 Saints to a 26-5 record; Mid-Florida Co-Conference championship; Top 10 NJCAA ranking; FCSAA Region VIII tournament appearance.
Foley earned his master's degree from Kansas State University, where he was a Graduate Assistant for the men's basketball team. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati, where he entered as a practice player and served as head student manager. Foley also played one year at Avila University.
