Pete Foley
Weston HS Head Coach, 1972 - 2007
Pete Foley founded the Weston High Swim/Dive Team in 1972 and coached the program until the 2006-2007 season. Born in Portland Maine on July 9, 1945. He swam competitively at the Portland Boys Club, and was mentored by the legendary Harold Paulson. At Cheverus High School (Class of '63), Pete held several school records and was state champion in the 200 free and 100 fly his senior year.
After high school, Pete received a swimming scholarship at Kent State University, where he was varsity captain and M.V.P. for two years. He also set nine school records. He graduated in June of 1967 with a B.S. in Health and Physical Education and a minor in psychology.
After college, Pete spent one year at the University of Maryland as a graduate assistant, and earned his MA in Physical Education. A year later, Pete became the youngest Division I coach in the country when he took over the Niagra University program at age 22. After a year at Niagra, he went on active duty with the Navy.
A graduate of O.C.S. in 1969, he was commissioned as an ensign in the USNR. Serving active duty for three years, Pete was involved in 2 destroyer tours. (In 1972 he began to serve reserve duty, which he would continue for the next 25 years.) After active duty, Pete looked to return closer to home.
In a chance-meeting in an elevator, Pete heard of a phys ed position opening in the town of Weston. He applied, and the rest is history. "Folz" was a phys ed teacher at Weston Middle School from 1972-1980, then became Weston's Athletic Director in 1981, a position he held until his retirement in 2007.
As Head Coach of Weston, Folz started off with a bang, as his teams won their first 37 meets in the early 70's. Approximately ten years later, the boys won their fist state title, in 1983. Approximately twenty years into his tenure, the squad split into separate girls and boys teams. By his 2007 retirement, the girls had a combined record of 110-6-1, the boys had a record of 495-36-1, and the boys had won 18 state championships in his 35 seasons at the helm.
With such success over the years, Folz was honored by numerous organizations for his coaching. NISCA, NFICA, EMISCA, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herlad, The Middlesex News, and Maine Swimming, are just a few of the organizations that have recognized Folz. He has also been inducted into both the Massachusetts and Maine Swimming Hall of Fames.
Pete and his wife, Marilyn, have two children. Daughter Debbie and a son Mike are both graduates of Weston High, in 1990 and 1992. Both are public school teachers, and Mike is a highly respected and successful High School Swim Coach in his own right.
After high school, Pete received a swimming scholarship at Kent State University, where he was varsity captain and M.V.P. for two years. He also set nine school records. He graduated in June of 1967 with a B.S. in Health and Physical Education and a minor in psychology.
After college, Pete spent one year at the University of Maryland as a graduate assistant, and earned his MA in Physical Education. A year later, Pete became the youngest Division I coach in the country when he took over the Niagra University program at age 22. After a year at Niagra, he went on active duty with the Navy.
A graduate of O.C.S. in 1969, he was commissioned as an ensign in the USNR. Serving active duty for three years, Pete was involved in 2 destroyer tours. (In 1972 he began to serve reserve duty, which he would continue for the next 25 years.) After active duty, Pete looked to return closer to home.
In a chance-meeting in an elevator, Pete heard of a phys ed position opening in the town of Weston. He applied, and the rest is history. "Folz" was a phys ed teacher at Weston Middle School from 1972-1980, then became Weston's Athletic Director in 1981, a position he held until his retirement in 2007.
As Head Coach of Weston, Folz started off with a bang, as his teams won their first 37 meets in the early 70's. Approximately ten years later, the boys won their fist state title, in 1983. Approximately twenty years into his tenure, the squad split into separate girls and boys teams. By his 2007 retirement, the girls had a combined record of 110-6-1, the boys had a record of 495-36-1, and the boys had won 18 state championships in his 35 seasons at the helm.
With such success over the years, Folz was honored by numerous organizations for his coaching. NISCA, NFICA, EMISCA, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herlad, The Middlesex News, and Maine Swimming, are just a few of the organizations that have recognized Folz. He has also been inducted into both the Massachusetts and Maine Swimming Hall of Fames.
Pete and his wife, Marilyn, have two children. Daughter Debbie and a son Mike are both graduates of Weston High, in 1990 and 1992. Both are public school teachers, and Mike is a highly respected and successful High School Swim Coach in his own right.