Tim’s Thoughts: New Hanover County Schools lost a great man in Richard Foy

I don’t write many columns.

The reason is because I want this site to focus on positive stories that feature facts and not just my opinions, but I couldn’t stay quiet about this.

New Hanover County Schools lost a great teacher, coach and human on Thursday when Richard Foy submitted his resignation. I have good relationships with most every coach in the area, but my relationship with Foy was special.

Since he took over as the New Hanover baseball coach in December 2008, I’ve had more great conversations with Foy than I can count.

Usually quiet and reserved, Foy (for some reason) never minded having long and engaging conversations with me before, after or sometimes even during games. There was a mutual respect and we enjoyed each other’s company.

When I first heard about the accusations that Foy assaulted a female student, I was in disbelief and immediately knew there was a second side to the story. Although I’ve not talked directly with Foy and I wasn’t at New Hanover the day it allegedly occurred, I’ve heard from multiple sources that no crime was committed.

With other recent scandals within New Hanover County Schools, it became very clear the school board was going to be overprotective and had no intention of reinstating Foy any time soon even though he has not been convicted of a crime. 

I don’t blame him for resigning. I’m sure he wanted to be able to move on with his life and not have this hanging over his head for who knows how long.

If the school board would have talked to any of his former players or colleagues, they would have heard stories about how many lives he’s touched over the years.

A petition to reinstate Foy was started online Thursday morning and by 9:30 Friday morning, 900 people had signed it. That speaks volumes about the kind of man Foy is.

I have a lot of great memories with him, but my favorite is easy. He was nice enough to let me ride the charter bus with the team to the 2018 3A State Championship Series in Burlington and it gave me an inside look at how the program was run.

I was expecting a wild ride up with a bunch of teenage boys, but they were quiet and well behaved. I don’t recall Foy ever having to talk to a player on the way up or back. It was clear he had created a culture and the players did what was expected.

Every once in a while, Foy would look up from his game of Solitaire on his phone and have a witty back-and-forth banter with assistant coach Scott Sandlin that nearly brought me to tears I was laughing so hard. 

Once the Wildcats swept Crest to win their first of back-to-back state titles, we headed back to Wilmington. Before we boarded the bus, Foy thanked me for coming in front of the entire team and then told me I was in charge of finding a spot for dinner. 

I found a place with a few different options, but ended up at Zaxby’s and at a table with Foy and his family. They made me feel like part of the family and to this day it’s still one of the most memorial dinners I’ve ever had.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to make any more of those memories with him and for that I’m sad. More importantly, I’m sad for future players of New Hanover baseball.

Foy would have made a huge impact in their lives.

He did in mine.