Jim Foster Quits Buckeye Basketball
The Ohio State University is looking for a new coach for their women's basketball program, following the news that Jim Foster has resigned.
Foster has had a long and successful career as part of Buckeye Basketball, winning six consecutive Big Ten regular season championships on the floor from 2005 to 2010. His total winning record of 279-82 makes him OSU's most successful coach ever in terms of his winning percentage. His record overall this season was 18-13. His team was tied for eight place in the Big Ten, with a record of seven and nine.
Foster also led his Buckeyes to 10 consecutive NCAA tournaments, as well as four Big Ten tournament titles. His team was ranked in the national top 10 for five of the last eight seasons, while 31 wins was a program record for his 2009-2010 team. Foster was himself a four-time Big Ten coach of the year too, putting an even more impressive gloss on a superb record.
The coach is also full of experience, having recently completed 35 years of service to the game of basketball. During that long career, he has coached at three colleges, with time spent at St Joseph's and Vanderbilt, as well as at Ohio State. His total of wins at all three colleges is 783, a phenomenal amount. This places Jim Foster among some all time coaching greats, with only one other coach winning over 200 games at three separate colleges, in either the men's or women's game.
Foster also made his mark in mentoring his young players both on and off the court, as well as being a well-respected public face, along with his wife, at the university.
He was also hailed for his recruitment abilities, which saw eight consecutive Big Ten players of the year pass through the ranks of women's Buckeye Basketball. Names such as Jessica Davenport, Jantel Lavender and Samantha Prahalis were all brought into the squad by Foster, who oversaw them win individual awards as well as team glory.
The coach left his appointment by mutual consent, with both parties emphasizing the amicable nature of the parting.