Who is Coach Bud Foster?

Coach Bud Foster and his wife, Jacquie, with
Hillary, Grant, Ammie and her baby Jaiden Olivia.

< Fast Facts >

1. Coach Foster's defense has ranked overall #1 defense for 2005 and 2006!
2. Coach Foster's 2005 Hokie Defense was ranked #1 in the country for overall Defense, #2 in scoring Defense, #2 against the pass, and #8 in rushing Defense. VT Defense led the Nation in non-Offensive touchdowns.
3. In 129 games, Coach Foster's Defense has held opponents to 102.7 yards rushing and 15.6 points per game.
4. 2007 Football Season Stats:
   • Finished in the top 5 nationally in five major categories.
   • Was third in scoring defense (16.07 ppg).
   • Was fourth in total defense and fifth in pass efficiency defense, rushing defense and sacks.
   • Led the ACC in six defensive categories.
   • Scored five touchdowns via interception returns.Produced six All-ACC selections, including three first-teamers.Featured two AFCA first-team All-Americans in defensive back Brandon Flowers, linebacker Xavier Adibi.
5. During Bud Foster’s one year as co-defensive coordinator and 12 seasons as defensive coordinator, Tech has ...
   • Had at least one defensive player earn All-America honors every year.
   • Four players gained A-A recognition in 1999 and three in 2001.
   • Been nationally ranked in the top five of a major defensive category 32 times.
   • Produced its first Lombardi Award winner and its first Nagurski Trophy winner in Corey Moore.
   • Had 40 different defensive players score touchdowns.
   • Held opponents to an average of 101.2 yards rushing and 15.2 points per game in 156 games.
   • Had 29 players drafted by NFL teams.
   • Produced two BIG EAST defensive players of the year – Corey Moore, who earned the honor in both 1998 and 1999, and Cornell Brown, who won it in 1995.

< Biography >

PERSONAL: Born: 7/28/59, Somerset, Ky. Hometown: Nokomis, Ill. Wife: former Jacqueline Travis Children: Ammie, Grant, Hillary EDUCATION: High School: Nokomis (Ill.) High School (1977) College: Murray State University (1981) PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Murray State (1977-80)

COACHING EXPERIENCE: 1981-82 Murray State (graduate assistant) 1983-85 Murray State (outside linebackers) 1986 Murray State (linebackers/special teams) 1987 Virginia Tech (inside linebackers) 1988-92 Virginia Tech (outside linebackers) 1993 Virginia Tech (linebackers / special teams) 1994 Virginia Tech (inside backers / special teams) 1995- Virginia Tech (defensive coordinator/ inside linebackers/special teams)

BOWL/PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: Player 1979 Division I-AA Playoffs (Murray State, semifinals) Coach 1986 Division I-AA Playoffs (Murray State, quarterfinals) 1993 Independence (Virginia Tech vs. Indiana) 1994 Gator (Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee) 1995 Sugar (Virginia Tech vs. Texas) 1996 Orange (Virginia Tech vs. Nebraska) 1997 Gator (Virginia Tech vs. North Carolina) 1998 Music City (Virginia Tech vs. Alabama) 1999 Sugar (Virginia Tech vs. Florida State) 2000 Gator (Virginia Tech vs. Clemson) 2001 Gator (Virginia Tech vs. Florida State) 2002 San Francisco (Virginia Tech vs. Air Force) 2003 Insight (Virginia Tech vs. California) 2004 Sugar (Virginia Tech vs. Auburn) 2005 Gator (Virginia Tech vs. Louisville) 2006 Chick-fil-A (Virginia Tech vs. Georgia) 2007 Orange (Virginia Tech vs. Kansas)

2006 Broyles Award winner Bud Foster, who is in his 22nd season at Virginia Tech, has helped mold nationally ranked defenses on a yearly basis during his 13 years as a coordinator.

Bud Foster, who was a finalist three previous times (1999, 2001, 2005) for the award given to the nation’s top assistant football coach, has gained a well-deserved reputation as one of the nation’s most respected defensive coaches while serving on Frank Beamer’s football staff at Tech. Last year’s group was once again among the nation’s elite, featuring a pair of first-team All-Americans in Brandon Flowers and Xavier Adibi, along with six all-conference selections. Four of those players were taken in the 2008 NFL Draft.

The 2006 unit led the nation in total defense for the second straight year. The unit also led the nation in passing defense and scoring defense.

The 2005 squad led the nation in total defense and ranked among the top three teams in three other categories. It produced two firstteam All-Americans along with four all-conference players.

Tech’s 2004 defense ranked in the top five nationally in total defense, pass defense, scoring defense, interceptions and turnovers gained. Under Foster’s guidance, the Hokies’ 2001 defense proved to be one of the nation’s best, ranking among the top eight teams in Division I-A in six different categories and leading the way in shutouts with four.

In 2000, Foster took a defense that returned just three starters and turned it into a unit that led the BIG EAST in rushing defense, placed 16th nationally against the run and tied for third nationally in interceptions. After helping Tech to the national championship game in 1999, Foster was recognized as the 2000 Division I-A Defensive Coordinator of the Year by American Football Coach magazine. Tech’s 1999 defensive unit led Division I-A in scoring defense and ranked third in two other categories.

Following the 1998 season, Foster was pursued by the University of Florida for its defensive coordinator position, but he opted to continue his long-standing football association with Beamer. That association dates back to 1979 when Foster was a strong safety and defensive end at Murray State and Beamer was the defensive coordinator. Foster began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at MSU in 1981, Beamer’s first season as the head coach.

Since coming to Tech in 1987, Foster has worn several coaching hats. He coached the inside linebackers for one year in 1987, then tutored the outside linebackers for the next five seasons. Foster assumed responsibility for both sets of linebackers prior to the 1993 season and also took over special-teams coaching that year. The following year, he coached the inside linebackers and special teams. Foster assumed the position of co-defensive coordinator in 1995 and took over as the sole defensive coordinator in ‘96. The inside linebackers continue to be his primary responsibility.

A 1981 graduate of Murray State, Foster was an outstanding strong safety and outside linebacker from 1977 to 1980. After two years as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Foster was elevated to a full-time staff position. The Nokomis, Ill., native coached outside linebackers for three seasons before taking over the inside and outside linebackers in 1986. He also served as the Racers’ recruiting coordinator and worked with special teams. Foster and his wife Jacqueline have three children: Ammie Porter, 29; Grant, 22; and Hillary, 20. Daughter Ammie has a 2-month-old baby girl, Jaiden Olivia.

National Defensive Rankings Under Coach Bud Foster

< WIN - What's-Important-Now >

Inscribed on The Lunch Pail… The “WIN” concept has been a staple in Bud’s coaching philosophies. "WIN" - What’s Important Now: To make change; To influence; To use this moment to be better than the last; To achieve greatness in all aspects of your life;

WIN at home. WIN at school. WIN at business. WIN at life.

< Favorite Memories >

1. 2006 Season - Obviously winning the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the nation is the ultimate goal as a coach. Even though the excitement of finally receiving this award has been overwhelming, it's also very humbling to know how many people are truly supporting me and what we're doing here at Virginia Tech.
2. 1995 Season - My First year as Defensive Coordinator. We won the Big East Championship and beat Texas in the Sugar Bowl.
3. 2004 Season - Being selected as a member of the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference).
4. 2004 Season - Winning the ACC Championship in our FIRST season in the league.

< Influences >

I'd have to say that the most important people that I have had the honor to either meet or have had impact on my life have been:

1. My Parents, Robert and Jan - They were very supportive of me throughout my life and in all aspects of my career and life choices.
2. Frank Beamer, Head Coach Virginia Tech - He has meant so much to me as a mentor and as a friend. He is the salt of the Earth.
3. Bill Vangel, my High School Coach - Coach Bill taught me the game. He was an outstanding teacher. A lot of my basic philosophy comes from Bill.

< Quotes from the Coach >

"Deserve Victory." "Success is a choice."

“I believe in an attacking, aggressive style of defense. We want to put speed and athleticism on the field and use that to attack and pressure opposing offenses.”

"You develop good habits and bad - There is no gray area .”

"About the time you start to feel good about yourself, your tail will get knocked off .”

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