Derrick Foster (born March 6, 1986) is an American football coach and former player who is currently the running backs coach for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL).
| New Orleans Saints | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Running backs coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 6, 1986 Goshen, Alabama, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Goshen (AL) (Goshen, Alabama) |
| College: | Southwest Baptist (2007–2010) |
| Career history | |
| As a coach: | |
| |
Early life
editFoster was born in Goshen, Alabama on March 6, 1986.[1] He played for the Goshen High School football team as a running back and was an All-County running back for the Eagles, surpassing 1,000 yards on the ground as a senior.[2] In his senior year he was nominated to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game.[3] He began playing on the varsity team during 7th grade.[4]
College career
editAfter high school, Foster earned a scholarship to Southwest Baptist University where he would transition from running back to wide receiver.[2] In four years, he tallied 2,062 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns.[4] After graduating, he took a job working at the SMART Plant in Luverne, where both his father and older brother worked.[4]
Coaching career
editEarly coaching
editIn 2011, Foster reached out to Valdosta State University offensive coordinator Robby Brown, who was his offensive coordinator in college.[4] Foster served as a graduate assistant at Valdosta State in 2011 while he pursued a master’s degree in sports management.[5] In 2012, Foster moved to an offensive assistant role with Tennessee, helping to coach running backs.[6] He would then spend the next three years at Northwestern State, initially as a running backs coach before moving to a role coaching wide receivers.[1][7]
Samford
editIn 2016, Foster took a job as the run game coordinator and running backs coach at Samford, helping lead the Bulldogs to two straight FCS playoff appearances.[5]
Iowa
editIn 2018, Foster took a job as the running backs coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes.[6] In 2020, he also became the offensive recruiting coordinator for the team, helping to reestablish recruiting efforts in the South.[8]
In 2020, he helped to coach sophomore running back, Tyler Goodson, into a first-team all-Big Ten Conference player.[9] Iowa's first running back to achieve the honor since 2008.[9]
Los Angeles Chargers
editIn 2021, Foster joined the Los Angeles Chargers as a running backs coach.[5] He had previously worked with Chargers head coach, Brandon Staley, as a graduate assistant at Tennessee.[4] Under the direction of Foster, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler totaled 44 regular-season scrimmage touchdowns, ranking first in the NFL over that span and leading the league in his first two seasons. Ekeler's 228 receptions for 1,805 yards with 14 touchdowns led NFL running backs in catches and receiving yardage over the three-season span under Foster's direction, while tying for first in touchdown grabs.[6]
New Orleans Saints
editOn February 21, 2024, New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen announced that Foster had been hired as the Saints running backs coach.[7]
Personal life
editFoster is the son of Robert Gamble and Dorothy Foster.[3] He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Southwest Baptist in 2010 and a master’s in public administration from Valdosta State University awarded in 2013.[1]
He and his wife, Bianca, have two children, Cooper and Brielle.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Derrick Foster - Demon Football Coach". Northwestern State University Athletics. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Boutwell, Josh (February 15, 2024). "Goshen native Derrick Foster reportedly headed to New Orleans". The Troy Messenger. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "Derrick Foster - 2010 - Football". Southwest Baptist University Athletics. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Boutwell, Josh (April 17, 2023). "From Goshen to the NFL: Derrick Foster dreamed big and made it big". The Troy Messenger. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Derrick Foster". www.neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c "5 Things to Know about Saints running backs coach Derrick Foster". www.neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Saints announce six offensive coaching hires". www.neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "Iowa RB coach Derrick Foster leaving Hawkeyes for NFL job". 247Sports. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Leistikow, Chad. "Iowa assistant Derrick Foster leaves for NFL job, reportedly with Los Angeles Chargers". Hawk Central. Retrieved February 25, 2024.