As a former SIU coach who has coached multiple schools and spent a countless amount of time on the field, Buddy Foster is being welcomed back to SIU as assistant coach.

From 1999-2005 Foster stood alongside head coach Kerri Blaylock, who has been at the helm for 14 years.

As a brother of seven siblings, Foster grew up in Murphysboro where he eventually left to become a student at Southeast Missouri State University. As a therapeutic recreation student, Foster became an undergraduate assistant for the Redhawks. He then worked his way up into a graduate assistant position, where he assisted the coaches and team members.

Shortly after, Foster used his degree and found himself in a workplace as a mental health counselor. He stayed there for nearly five years.

Foster said the job was challenging but rewarding. Although he enjoyed working with his clients, Foster felt that coaching softball was what he was born to do.

“When the opportunity came for a full-time position I jumped to it,” he said. “I found myself using some of those counseling skills with my kids on a daily basis.”

After his time at SEMO, Foster became a member of the SIU staff where he was a part of one of the best moments in SIU softball history. He said the 2003 Sweet 16 Saluki softball team was a team to remember.

“I’ll never forget when I told Kerri that we better enjoy this because we may never get back here again,” Foster said. “The reality of us to consistently get to that point is tough, and that group of kids were just so talented.”

The 2003 Salukis went 18-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference and 39-14 overall. They made the first run to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Sweet 16 and completed the year ranked No. 22 in the nation.

Foster left SIU two years later, however, and took a head coach position at Bradley University.

At the time, the Bradley Braves were struggling for a winning season. Prior to Foster’s arrival, the Braves only experienced one 20-win season. Foster turned the program around, capturing back-to-back winning seasons in his first two years.

The Braves had not only accomplished wins, their grade point averages also ranked among the top 25 in the nation.

“I believe my role as a coach is to use sports as a way to prepare kids to move on in life,” Foster said. “I’m just as competitive as anyone else and I want to win every time on the floor, but the big picture is that this is a chance for kids to learn discipline and team work.”

Even after coaching at Bradley, Foster wanted to become a part of another conference. He received the opportunity to coach at the University of Kansas, where he only stayed for a year until head coach Tracy Bunge retired.

After his short time in Kansas, Foster decided to travel back to Illinois where he took an assistant coaching position at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In his four seasons at SIUE, the Cougars went 113-96, which included a 35-13 record right before Foster’s departure in 2013. Foster had already thought about returning to SIU and even had many conversations with Blaylock about it.

Blaylock and Foster have been friends for more than 30 years. Through Foster’s time at different schools he kept in contact with Blaylock, communicating with her nearly five times a week. Foster has joined the Saluki staff with Blaylock’s associate head coach, Jen Sewell.

“I feel like Buddy and Jen are like having two other head coaches,” Blaylock said. “Buddy is a different set of eyes that’s more of a fresh view, he does very well with the kids but he also helps me by looking at things a little differently.”

Foster said he is blending well with the women’s team and feels like he has not skipped a beat from when he left.

As an assistant coach Foster works with the pitchers and hitters, as well as the infield on defense. Junior pitcher Alyssa Wunderlich said Foster has been a great addition to the team. He helps her with pitching and hitting techniques.

Both Wunderlich and Blaylock agree that Foster’s calming spirit is one quality that makes him such a great coach.

“He fits right in with the team and it’s pretty much like he has been here all along,” Wunderlich said. “He starts each day with a smile on his face and I enjoy having him help me better myself as a player.”

Foster will be assisting the Salukis as they begin their spring season Feb. 7 with the Century Link Classic tournament in San Marcos, Texas.

“After the consistent traveling I am very grateful for all of those kids I coached, all the people I have met,” Foster said. “It definitely gives me another perspective of how other people live and also makes me appreciate being here because I understand how blessed I am to return to this department and program.”