Foley built basketball program into powerhouse
February 9-15, 2026
The most successful coach in program history, Foley compiled a 410–243 record during his 21 seasons at the helm of the Trojan women’s basketball program from 2003–24. He led Little Rock to six NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the second round, captured five Sun Belt regular-season titles and earned five Sun Belt Coach of the Year honors, along with OVC Coach of the Year recognition in 2022. His 231 Sun Belt victories remain the most in league history.
Yet for Foley, election to the Little Rock Athletics Hall of Fame represents far more than numbers.
“It’s always a great honor,” Foley said. “It makes you feel like you accomplished something—that people respected what you did. That’s a good feeling.”
Foley consistently emphasized the role his players played in building the program, pointing to stars such as Taylor Gault, who is included in the 2026 Hall of Fame class, Chasity Reed and Alicia Cash as examples of talent paired with relentless work ethic.
“All the great kids I had—Chas, Taylor, kids like that—it was a lot of fun to have them, to help them grow and see what they could become,” Foley said. “Being able to go in with Taylor, that’s special. I feel really good about that.”
Gault credits Foley with helping shape the competitor she became.
“He pushed me every single day and made me tougher than I ever thought I could be,” Gault said. “He demanded a lot from us, but he believed in us. That standard he set is why we were able to succeed, and it’s something I still carry with me.”
That partnership between coach and player was the foundation of Little Rock’s rise on the national stage.
“You’re not going to be a great coach without great players,” Foley said. “You can coach as hard as you want, but without talent, you’re not going to accomplish a whole lot.
I was fortunate to have kids with real talent and to be able to help get the most out of them. They did their job, and I did my job—it was a true partnership.”
When Foley arrived in Little Rock, one goal stood above the rest: change the program’s ceiling.
“One of my biggest goals when I came here was to do something that hadn’t been done before,” he said. “We had never been to the NCAA Tournament, and I knew we had to change that. Getting the opportunity to stay in-state and build something special, and then to accomplish that for the first time—that meant a lot.”
In 2022, the Jack Stephens Center court was named in Foley’s honor, a fitting tribute to the coach who transformed the Trojans into a perennial contender. He is also a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
“He deserves every honor and accolade, but he never wants to take the credit,” said current Little Rock women’s head coach Steve Wiedower, who was an assistant with Foley. “He gives the players the credit, but he is a great coach and was a winner everywhere he coached.”
Now, with his induction into the Little Rock Athletics Hall of Fame, Foley’s impact is further cemented. But for him, the true reward lies in the relationships built and the shared success achieved along the way.
For Foley, the wins and accolades will always matter—but it’s the people that define the journey. The players who bought in, the relationships built along the way, and the pride of seeing former Trojans now honored alongside him make this recognition especially meaningful. His Hall of Fame induction reflects not just a record-setting career, but a legacy rooted in trust, shared purpose and the lasting impact of those who believed in the vision from the very beginning.
Photo caption:
Joe Foley built a legacy at Little Rock defined by winning, consistency and trust.
Photo credit:
(lrtrojans.com)