Mark Foster was head coach Richard Moodie’s first hire and was named to the staff in January 2017.
Foster, a former head coach at Trevecca Nazarene, compiled a 40-27-8 record in four seasons – 34-17-6 in his final three campaigns – and leaves the school as the second-winningest coach in program history.
In his four seasons in charge, Foster coached 21 all-Great Midwest Athletic Conference honorees, five all-region recipients, and a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
He owns two of the top three winningest seasons in school history, and was named the G-MAC Coach of the Year after the 2016 campaign.
A former student-athlete at Trevecca Nazarene, Foster’s work on and off the field will earn him a spot in the school’s hall of fame this spring. He is already the only player in program history to have his number retired.
After spending two seasons as an assistant to Brett Armstrong, Foster was promoted to head coach prior to the 2013 season. That was his only losing season with a 6-10-2 mark, but finished strong with a 3-2-2 mark in the final seven games.
It didn’t take long for the Trojans to turn the corner under Foster’s leadership, as his second team posted 12 victories, then the second-most wins in program history, finished second in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and reached the tournament championship game. He guided the team to a 12-5-2 mark and a 7-1-2 record in league play in the program’s first full season as a member of NCAA Division II.
Four Trojans earned all-conference honors, led by Brooke Gann and Jordan Ponto on the first team, and Abbie Alosi and Anna Hoffman on the second team, with four more receiving honorable mention recognition. Ponto was named the league’s defensive player of the year and Gann finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in goals (31) and points (71).
Foster mentored three first-team all-conference players in 2015 while guiding the program to a 9-7-3 overall record. Hoffman and Alosi were joined by Hannah Barney on the first team, while Natalie Goetz was named to both the all-G-MAC Second and Freshman team.
Hoffman became the school’s first all-region honoree, receiving third-team honors, and was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-American third team.
His final season in charge was one to remember as Foster was named the league’s coach of the year with five players receiving all-conference recognition after a 13-5-1 and 11-3 campaign that resulted in a regular-season championship.
The Trojans set a school record with seven straight shutouts, and posted 11 total on the year. The team also recorded a new school mark with six away victories.
Five different players were tabbed to the all-Great Midwest Athletic Conference teams, including Hannah Barney and Sophie Callis on the first team, and Diana Corzine, Chelsey Russom, Liz Denton on the second.
Callis (1st) and Barney (2nd) were represented on the NSCAA All-Midwest Region Team, and Russom and Denton were voted to the D2CCA NCAA Division II Midwest All-Region Team.
The Trojans led the conference in five different categories, including shutout percentage, goals against average, and save percentage, with Russom and Denton ranking in the top 40 in the nation in three different individual categories combined.
As a player, Foster finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in both goals (41) and points (95), and shares the top spot in assists (13).
He led the program to 29 wins in his four years, including the Trojans’ first postseason win as a senior. Foster was the TranSouth Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2008 and the TSAC Freshman of the Year in 2005. He was voted to the league’s first team in 2005 and 2008, and picked up second-team laurels in 2006 and 2007.
In the classroom, Foster was twice named a TranSouth Scholar-Athlete.
Prior to his matriculation at Trevecca Nazarene, the Newcastle, Ireland native played for the Kilmore Recreation Football Club in the Irish Premier Football League.
Foster is married to the former Jessica Leary, who played softball and soccer for the Trojans.
