This is the fourth of five features on the Brandeis Atheltics Hall of Fame Class of 2026. For more information on the Hall of Fame and Homecoming, on October 3, 2026, visit the event home page, which includes a schedule of events and registration link!
Over the years, coach Tom Foley has seen three of his former players and his most successful team inducted into the Brandeis Athletics Hall of Fame. This October, he will join the illustrious ranks of Hall of Famers on his own merits.
From 1967 through 1998, Foley guided the Judges men's tennis program to regional and national prominence, collecting three consecutive New England championships, leading the team to its first University Athletic Association (UAA) title in 1989, and securing the first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament berth for a New England men's tennis program. Yet, his journey to Brandeis began with an unexpected twist.
Foley didn't play tennis in college—he played golf. His tennis coaching career began while working as a math teacher at Waltham High School, which lacked a tennis team. Foley recruited a small group of local students, and in their very first year, the team went undefeated and won a championship.
His path to Brandeis came courtesy of a newspaper misprint. Spotting an ad in the Waltham News Tribune for a tennis head coach, Foley visited Brandeis to meet Athletic Director Irv Olin. Olin informed him that Brandeis was not hiring; the newspaper had accidentally listed Brandeis instead of Bentley. Foley left, but six months later, Olin called back to admit he was wrong and offered Foley the job.
Throughout most of his time at Brandeis, Foley balanced his coaching responsibilities with a full-time career in public education, serving as Waltham High School's math department chair and later as assistant superintendent. Daily commutes from high school dismissal at 3:00 PM to Brandeis practices at 4:00 PM were routine—once resulting in a local traffic stop where an officer let Foley off with a warning after high school students cheered from a nearby porch.
Foley's coaching style combined high expectations, clear boundaries, and deep respect for his players. To avoid the friction often present in competitive youth tennis, Foley established a strict rule during recruiting: all ongoing communication had to be between coach and player.
"Your son can't have two coaches," he reminded parents. When star player Noel Occomy '89 reached the NCAA Nationals, Foley famously advised Occomy's parents to let their son play without sideline coaching, ensuring Occomy stayed focused on his way to victory.
Foley excelled at nurturing diverse athletic talent, coaching standout players such as technical master Bobby Bernstein '85, transfer Jon Cordish '90, and Dave Bilgrei '88—a resilient competitor who Foley said "hit balls back like an uneven brick wall, but he also never lost to the same player twice".
Foley's contributions extended well beyond the tennis court. Serving as Associate Athletic Director for over a year, he played a key role in the planning and construction of the Gosman Sports Center. Knowing "every bolt in the place," Foley insisted on durable stainless steel fixtures and Italian Mondo court surfaces to guarantee a top-tier facility.
Across three decades of evolution—from wooden racquets to modern topspin play, players who mimicked the habits of successful professionals of the day —Foley's core emphasis remained on building community. Decades after his retirement, he continues to receive birthday messages and updates from former players who have gone on to become doctors, leaders, and lifelong friends.
"At the end of the day," Foley said, "I got paid to hang out with a bunch of good athletes who are also really, really smart."
