| About Coach Foster |
| Hometown: | Goshen, AL |
| High School: | Goshen HS, 2005 |
| Birthdate: | March 6, 1986 |
| College: | Southwest Baptist, 2008 |
| Wife: | Bianca |
A record-setting wide receiver during his playing career,
Derrick Foster proved he was equally capable in developing standout pass catchers and professional prospects in his first season as the Northwestern State wide receivers coach.
Under Foster’s tutelage, Ed Eagan obliterated the school single-season receptions record with his 73 catches surpassing the old mark by 19. Eagan also tied the single-game receptions record of 13 and established a new benchmark for single-game receiving yards, torching McNeese State for 238 yards.
In addition to Eagan’s exploits, Foster was instrumental in helping Bryant Mitchell make his way to the Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos and guided Cody Jones to a productive junior campaign in Jones’ second season as a full-time wide receiver.
All of this came one season after Foster made the Demon running backs extremely productive in 2013, and now has shifted back to coaching the position that he played in a record-shattering fashion, wide receiver.
The personable Foster tutored an ensemble group of NSU ballcarriers in 2013 and got production deep through the rotation. Six different running backs scored touchdowns – four had three or more – while the five busiest averaged at least 4.3 yards per carry. All six caught passes, with returners De’Mard Llorens (14), Garrett Atzenweiler (13) and Daniel Taylor (12) combining for 39 grabs.
| Coaching History |
| 2011 | Valdosta State | Receivers |
| 2012 | Tennessee | Running backs |
| 2013 | Northwestern State | Running backs |
| 2014 | Northwestern State | Wide Receivers |
| . |
| Playing History |
| 2007-10 | Southwest Baptist |
The young coach helped Llorens progress from a player who was not included on the 110-man roster in 2012, his true freshman year, to a rookie who scored five times and posted 501 yards rushing and receiving in his first college campaign.
Foster arrived at NSU in January 2013 from Derek Dooley’s 2012 coaching staff with the Tennessee Volunteers.
Foster joined Dooley’s staff for the 2012 season, assisting the offensive coordinator and helping coach running backs. The Volunteers finished third in the Southeastern Conference in total offense with 5,711 yards. He had office recruiting duties for junior colleges in California, Texas, Kansas, New York, Arizona and Illinois.
His coaching career began at Valdosta in 2011 where he assisted head coach David Dean, offensive coordinator Robby Brown and the special teams coordinator, working with the punt team, and the return teams. He worked with wide receivers and helped produce an All-Gulf South Conference selection (32 catches, 551 yards, 6 TDs). Ten wide receivers had at least one catch, and while at Valdosta, Foster coached Seantavius Jones, now a receiver with the New Orleans Saints.
His recruiting areas included Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
“Derrick Foster is very knowledgeable about this game. He’s a very talented guy who gets a lot done in a little time,” said Demons head coach Jay Thomas. “Derrick helped us progress really quickly in the system so that we got a lot accomplished last year. He has had a lot of success and fun doing a lot of what we want to do here.”
Foster was a three-year starting receiver at Southwest Baptist, including a record-shattering 2007 campaign. Foster played in 41 of 44 games, and had 93 career receptions. In 2007 he ranked sixth in the conference with 44 catches. He was a 1,000-yard rusher at Goshen High and an All-County running back.
Foster, 28, is a native of Goshen, Alabama. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Southwest Baptist in 2010 and a master’s in public administration from Valdosta State University awarded in 2013. Foster is married to the former Bianca Cooper.
