Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster talks with Georgia about DC job
Any college football coach seeking a defensive coordinator probably should put in a call to Bud Foster, Virginia Tech’s esteemed DC. And Georgia’s Mark Richt has.
Foster has been contacted by Georgia about its vacant defensive-coordinator position, the veteran coach confirmed through a spokesman Monday.
“He said he has been contacted,” Virginia Tech associate athletics director Dave Smith said by e-mail, “but that’s it.”
Asked if “that’s it” means talks haven’t progressed beyond initial contact, Smith replied: “That would be my take, but the only other thing [Foster] said was there really isn’t anything else to say.”
Foster has been on Virginia Tech’s staff for 23 seasons, the past 15 as defensive coordinator. He won the 2006 Frank Broyles Award as college football’s top assistant coach. His defenses often have been among the nation’s best.
He has turned down numerous offers to leave Virginia Tech for other coordinator jobs over the years, including an offer from South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier two years ago.
If he’s interested in the Georgia job, Foster should rank high –- very high –- on a list of candidates believed to include Alabama’s Kirby Smart, Kansas State’s Vic Koenning and others.
At Virginia Tech, Foster is making $402,000 this year, according to a recent USA Today survey of coaches’ salaries.
Former Georgia coach Jim Donnan mentioned on his 680 The Fan show today that he was told by Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer that Foster is talking with Georgia. Reached later by the AJC, Donnan said that’s all he knows about it and that he doesn’t want to inject himself into the matter.
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275 comments Add your comment
clancy west u r an idiot
December 14th, 2009
4:05 pm
please dont take that the wrong way.
uga is not going to hire a young inexperienced
DC. they are going to get a proven winner.
are you 9 years old?
Dave In Tampa
December 14th, 2009
4:05 pm
Makes no sense for Foster to leave VT. Probably bidding for a raise at VT. However, I would love to see him at UGA. He’s a proven DC. We need to hire a “discipline” coach if that was posible. Still, I like what I’m hearing out of Athens. We’ll get this trained righted again and heading in the right direction. Go Dawgs!
Grandad
December 14th, 2009
4:11 pm
UGA is not a lateral move. Va. Tech is a relative newcomer as a college football power [Beamer]. The Dawgs have more tradition, bigger stadium, better conference and a better reservoir of athletes which parlays into which is a better job. Blacksburg is beautiful, but Athens, no contest.
When Beamer leaves, who is to say that VT will not go back to being a
pre-Beamer program. If B.C. wants to be a head coach it’s like J.D. said: “you go to UGA, in the SEC, and turn that program around, that may be the juice he needs to get that elusive HC job.”
just a fan
December 14th, 2009
4:14 pm
Hey Tim from 1976 to 1986 Sly Croom worked on the defensive side of the ball at the University of Alabama. I guess one decade on the defensive side of the ball doesn’t count just offering up another option. I do think Bud Foster would be better here than most other options
Dan A.
December 14th, 2009
4:14 pm
By the way, just to correct something that somebody said earlier – Bud Foster is NOT the head coach in waiting at VA Tech. Jim Donnan addressed that earlier, he said it was brought up last year and it became clear that there was no such arrangement at VA Tech like with Jimbo Fisher at FSU or Will Muschamp at UT.
Sautee Dawg
December 14th, 2009
4:16 pm
Foster??? What’s Va. Tech ever won to make Foster such a great addition to the UGA staff?
His defense is in the ACC where they play no defense and like I say what has Va Tech ever won???
exNFLplayer
December 14th, 2009
4:19 pm
Sautee Dawg, I think BassDawg answered that question in his 3:06. VT’s problem has never been defense or special teams. Their offenses have always been somewhat pedestrian.
Jona
December 14th, 2009
4:22 pm
Alabama L 34-24 0-1
4 Sat., Sep 12 Marshall W 52-10
5 Sat., Sep 19 Nebraska W 16-15
6 Sat., Sep 26 Miami (FL) W 31-7
7 Sat., Oct 3 @Duke W 34-26
8 Sat., Oct 10 Boston College W 48-14
9 Sat., Oct 17 @Georgia Tech L 28-23
11 Thur., Oct 29 North Carolina L 20-17
12 Thur., Nov 5 @East Carolina W 16-3
13 Sat., Nov 14 @Maryland W 36-9
14 Sat., Nov 21 North Carolina State W 38-10
15 Sat., Nov 28 @Virginia W 42-13
Not bad numbers to give up. Even for a bunch of ACC teams. Oh, and the number 1 team in the country.
exNFLplayer
December 14th, 2009
4:24 pm
If you can coach D it shows no matter what the conference, i.e. Bud Foster – VT, Tommy West – Memphis, Dick Bumpas – TCU just to name a few. In West’s case he took a defense ranked near the bottom in the NCAA and in 1 year under him they were #5 in total defense and #1 against the rush nationally. Give guys like the above access to UGA/SEC talent and they’ll create a monster.
PJ
December 14th, 2009
4:25 pm
Lateral move? you kidding right?
Moving from the ACC to SEC is NOT a lateral move and could increases his chances of landing a HC sooner by bringing the Dawgs D back to life. If he comes to Athens and his D give UGA a nice run in the next two year (e.g. beating UF,UT and Tech[obvious gonna happen], at least one SECCG) he’ll get a HC job no question about it. At VT he’s already established as one of the Top DCs in the country and there’s nothing new for him to do. A move to UGA (or any other program that faces better competition) will allow him to show his coaching abilities and increase his chances. Thus, this is NO lateral movement. Open the wallet Evans!
Pugnacious Paul
December 14th, 2009
4:25 pm
Bud is a DUD too………
BigTimeTECHFan
December 14th, 2009
4:26 pm
UGA fans would hate for them to hire Bud Foster.
He’s an ACC coach – according to most UGA fans the ACC is 2nd rate football when Tech beat them.
But from a Tech fan, I think he’s a great coach, His “D” plays very agressive, with the talent UGA gets they would be even better then Va Tech. He would be a very BIG pickup for UGA.
Total Defense:
2004 – #4 in the country
2005 – #1 in the country
2006 – #1 in the country
2007 – #4 in the country
2008 – #7 in the country
2009 – #14 in the country
Scoring Defense:
2004 – #2 in the country
2005 – #2 in the country
2006 – #1 in the country
2007 – #3 in the country
2008 – #13 in the country
2009 – #11n the country
Dan A.
December 14th, 2009
4:26 pm
just a fan – Croom has spent the last 22 years of his coaching career on the offensive side of the ball, most of it coaching running backs. Yeah, he spent 9 years as an assistant at Alabama back in the early 80’s, but he was only an outside linebackers coach. And you’re ready to hire him on as a DC.
exNFLplayer
December 14th, 2009
4:28 pm
You nailed it PJ.
Sautee Dawg
December 14th, 2009
4:28 pm
NFLplayer i stand corrected just never followed Va. Tech that close but can’t remember them winning consistently, we do indeed need someone to coach special teams, if Foster can do that it would be good. I had the impression though that Beamer hisself was in charge of Va Tech special teams.
Miami
December 14th, 2009
4:29 pm
Hey Ugay Rednecks,,,which will it be a Waffle House waitress or a bikini thong babe from Miami Beach,,,Orange Bowl or Weed Whacker Bowl!!! HAAHAAAHAAAAHAAAA!!!!!
RonnieGarDner
December 14th, 2009
4:31 pm
If Tennessee and its band of convicts were to put an arsh whipping on Foster and his team in the Chic Fellatio Bowl…..I wonder if UGA would rethink the selection of Foster?
Sautee Dawg
December 14th, 2009
4:32 pm
Coach West at Memphis sounds better.
exNFLplayer
December 14th, 2009
4:34 pm
A little nugget for you Tech fans. Tommy West grew up a Tech fan even though he played at UT. You guys should start a dump Dave, hire Tommy movement. Bring a guy like that to GT and you’d really be scary. To be honest, without a defense your TO is on borrowed time. Get a D and you just might see some NC contention in your future.
exNFLplayer
December 14th, 2009
4:36 pm
Beamer is the SC coach Sautee. I was just pointing out that VT has won with D and good SC play in spite of average offenses. I was an offensive player but even my dumb azz knows D wins championships.
Jona
December 14th, 2009
4:37 pm
Hey bugs. We know you haven’t been to a meaningful bowl in a very long time, but please act act like you’ve been there before and don’t embarrass the whole state. UGA can’t go every year. Just isn’t fair to the little schools (gt)
John in Athens
December 14th, 2009
4:38 pm
I don’t know why more people don’t want Dick Bumpas! TCU is defense!! We need to get a DC soon, these recruits aren’t going to be impressed by a graduate-assistant coached defense in the Carpets of Dalton Bowl…
DC's have wives and family- Belks vs Phipps
December 14th, 2009
4:41 pm
Why would anyone leave a VA TECH for a UGA ??? is a moronic question and likely posed by a local Atlanta teen thug with 0 college or 0 job experience and 0 wife. Here is the answer:
1.) Atlanta metro area is a retail dining and shopping shopping mecca and cultural arts center and NATIONAL TV news center vs. a Blacksburg, where the coolest thing to do is the local Waffle House Two for One menu on Friday nights. Coaches usually have wives and kids. Any wife ( Married to a $600,000 year hubby ) would much prefer Phipps Plaza ( 1.5 hour from Athens ) than a run down Belk store in Blacksburg. This is a BIG REASON to their wives and daughters. Life style it is called. LIFESTYLE is why ANY MAN would JUMP at UGA
2.) The SEC is big boy football. UGA has already spotted Va Tech about 24 points in the Chi FIl A Bowl and UGA WON it after scoring like 34 unanswered points. See? Big boy football in the SEC is a challenge and a resume builder. The ACC is JUST the opposite ………a resume KILLER.
3.) UGA is considered a major ACADEMIC institution and that says a lot for his kid’s college edducation.
4.) Lake Oconee and Lake Lanier are close by and Athens is in the home office of Georgia golf.
5.) Money you morons!!!
6.0 MOST on the way UP coaches WOULD LOVE to be at UGA and score a winning gig.
You all know this too and cannot stand the fact that CWM is GONE. HAHAHAHAHA 30-24 & 1-8
Gooooooooooooooooooo Dogs!!!
Far Away From Home Dawg
December 14th, 2009
4:42 pm
Whoever said that S. Croom has no defensive experience hasn’t looked at his record. He coached linebackers for the Bear at Alabama for almost ten years … That said, the Dawgs should make a sizable offer to Bud Foster and get him on board for the bowl game. Foster is the missing piece …
PJ
December 14th, 2009
4:44 pm
I was in the Bumpas bandwagon until realized that the HC is the one that calls the Defense. I’m sure he know his stuff and is learning something there but meeehhh…. by having an HC with O background we should hire someone proven that can manage the D by himself. That’s why I jumped off the Bumpas wagon and why I put Foster ahead of Smart. 1) Foster, 2)Smart, 3)Koenning
Dont evenmention BVG and TT because we all know those are just fairy tales, if you really believe it could happen then you should limit your substance ingestion.
Bob
December 14th, 2009
4:45 pm
“the fact that Foster is not Head Coaching material makes him a very appealing and non-threatening choice to CMR”
That statement has 2 major flaws. First of all Foster is definitely “Head Coaching material”. He’s turned down opportunities to HC a low level FBS as well as FCS schools. If we assume that your statement is correct, there’s even less reason for Foster to move to UGA (UF, LSU, Bama, UT, OU, ND would be “maybes” in that scenario, but UGA is far from being on that level).
BigTimeTECHFan
December 14th, 2009
4:48 pm
Florida just hire former Steeler coach Bill Cowher as DC.
DC's have wives and family- Belks vs Phipps
December 14th, 2009
4:49 pm
Hey MIAMI:
I do business in Miami for about 35 years, now. You had better be careful. The thugs there that car jack rented autos and hustle touristas do not put up with that rah rah Tech crap and they will know you clowns from the rest of the crowd……….YOU ALL will be in thongs!! HAHAHAHA 30-24 & 1-8
Miami is a hole. I take lodging in the local MIA Mariotts and you had better be careful late at night. Even in safe hotel parking lots. You will be met at the parking lot by a security guard………..guaranteed.
Of course, being Northside Drive punk thugs with a campus robbery a night, you all should do fine.
HAHAHAHAHA Safe??? HAHAHAHA
Go Dogs.
Bob
December 14th, 2009
4:50 pm
“USC isn’t a conference contender, UGA is.”
That’s a joke. UGA is no more a conference contender than USC is (only dawg fans are deluded enough to think otherwise). UGA is strictly a lateral move for Foster and the only reason that they would be a consideration, is money. Since Foster is the 7th highest paid DC, in the country, the money won’t be much more than he’s getting now. In the end, there’s no logical reason that Foster wold got to UGA. Now, since Strong has moved to an HC position, I could see Foster going to UF, where he’ll get more national attention, as they win NC’s (and continue to dominate UGA and the rest of the SEC East).
11Dawg
December 14th, 2009
4:51 pm
One thing that bothers me about those defensive rankings is that VT is in the ACC. Let’s not forget the last couple years when Tech has had the “#2 defense in the country” and then we rip through them like they were Arkansas. GT aside, most ACC offenses are suspect.
MyView
December 14th, 2009
4:52 pm
If nothing else, Foster can evaluate talent on defense. VT does not sign a lot of four and five star players yet they always have a highly rated defense. That tells me that he is finding the right guys regardless of the star rating and that is very important. Seems as though BVG was also good at evaluating players as Pollack and Thomas Davis were not blue chippers either coming out of HS. BVG says he noticed Thomas Davis playing basketball, and liked the way he changed directions. I also heard Bob Stoops say something similar about Demarco Murray.
VT Scott
December 14th, 2009
4:53 pm
Here’s why a VT move to UGA is a lateral move: Year in, Year out, Virginia Tech is in the top tier of its conference, and UGA will never get over the likes of Alabama or Florida. Virginia Tech plays ranked teams out of conference, while UGA is content to roll over I-AA teams and leave the in-conference games as their only ranked opponents. It’s a lateral transfer to go from one of the perennial bests of the ACC (albeit a weaker conference than the SEC, that I admit) to 3rd or 4th fiddle at best in the SEC.
I’m sorry, but I don’t see this happening. Beamer will retire eventually and Foster will become the coach. This is just a play to get that ball rolling and increase Foster’s role to “Coach-in-Waiting”
Sanford Drive
December 14th, 2009
4:53 pm
Agree with 11Dawg. Same goes for Big12. They don’t play defense either.
Best case scenario would be to get another SEC guy.
Sanford Drive
December 14th, 2009
4:55 pm
Sadly, 3rd or 4th fiddle in the SEC is still better than #1 in the ACC.
I guess we’ll have to see how all this plays out.
Dan A.
December 14th, 2009
4:57 pm
Ok Bob, you’re a moron. When was the last time South Carolina won the SEC? Answer: Never. So you saying that South Carolina is as much a contender as Georgia is the most ignorant thing uttered YET on this particular thread, and that’s saying something.
CPJ IS IN MARK BRADLEY'S HALL OF FAME
December 14th, 2009
4:57 pm
PUGNACIOUS PAUL:
REX GOT HIS HEAD IN THE SAND JUST LIKE YOU DO….WILLIE SHUT THE MASTER PUGNACIOUS DOWN IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP/ONLY CHAMPIONSHIP THAT MATTERS…41 YARDS TO THE QB, 33 TO THE NFL ALL WORLD FULLBACK…WILLIE GOT INSIDE PUGNACIOUS’S HEAD AND HAD PUG THROWING IT ALL OVER THE LOT AT THE END OF THE GAME, ABANDONING THE TRIPLE FOR THE PASS…LONG LIVE WILLIE MARTINEZ…THANKS FOR MAKING PUGNACIOUS TOTE THAT A$$ WHIPPING ALL THE WAY TO THE ACC CHAMP GAME AND BEYOND…HE WILL CARRY IT 300 PLUS MORE DAYS….
Dan A.
December 14th, 2009
4:59 pm
VT Scott:
UGA has played bigger OOC competition than VT has the past few years (we’ve played OK State, Arizona State, Boise State and Colorado, who the hell have you played?) and we play in a far stronger and FAR more prestigious conference than the ACC. Thanks for playing.
11Dawg
December 14th, 2009
5:00 pm
“Year in, Year out, Virginia Tech is in the top tier of its conference, and UGA will never get over the likes of Alabama or Florida.”
Um…we have contended for the conference title and won it several times. We also beat both those teams in 2007, interesting fact.
“Virginia Tech plays ranked teams out of conference, while UGA is content to roll over I-AA teams and leave the in-conference games as their only ranked opponents.”
Oklahoma State? Georgia Tech?
Face it, we had a DOWN YEAR. Are people saying Oklahoma and USC are going to suddenly be perennial midlevel teams in the Big 12 and Pac 10?
dawgcrzy
December 14th, 2009
5:00 pm
with money not being an option, if Foster is who CMR wants to hire,he could easily be the highest paid DC in the country. question is ,is he CMR’s first choice or is he just on the intreview list?
EDSBS » Archive » BUD FOSTER MEETS WITH UGA
December 14th, 2009
5:02 pm
[...] Foster has spoken with UGA about their vacant defensive coordinator position. You might say, why would Bud Foster leave his custom perch at Virginia Tech making $400K a year in [...]
GT Joe
December 14th, 2009
5:04 pm
ROFLMAO!!!!!
Stupid leg humpers clown the ACC all year, call it the A SHE SHE, and now they get a collective boner about Bud Foster!!! Hello, the ACC SUX!!! 3rd RATE!!! Can’t BCS Bowls, right?!!?
But as a Tech fan, go ahead and get him. We ran for 309 yards on his defense this year… and that was the SECOND time he saw it.
YoungDawg
December 14th, 2009
5:05 pm
With Brown signing an extension at TX UGA should go after the following DC’s in this order:
1. Will Mushchamp – offer him 2 mill a year to come home
2. Kirby Smart – offer him 1.5 mill a year to come home
Make Will & Kirby say no by being willing to exceeded whatever TX or AL offer THEN you go after Bud Foster, Tyrone Nix, Dick Bumpas, Vic Koenning etc.
Sly Croom is not a DC candidate Ellis Johnson who’s at SC now was the man running the D at Miss St for Croom but he’s looking to coach three more years for Spurier then retire.
Bob is Gay
December 14th, 2009
5:08 pm
Bob – if you really believe this…
““USC isn’t a conference contender, UGA is.”
That’s a joke. UGA is no more a conference contender than USC is (only dawg fans are deluded enough to think otherwise). UGA is strictly a lateral move for Foster and the only reason that they would be a consideration, is money. Since Foster is the 7th highest paid DC, in the country, the money won’t be much more than he’s getting now. In the end, there’s no logical reason that Foster wold got to UGA. Now, since Strong has moved to an HC position, I could see Foster going to UF, where he’ll get more national attention, as they win NC’s (and continue to dominate UGA and the rest of the SEC East).”
Then you are an idiot – South Carolina has done very little in it’s history much less in the SEC…
Georgia has a down year – which was half expected due to losses at every offensive skill position – Stafford, Moreno, and Massaquoi. You would think we just had 5 bad years in a row with all of the nay sayers. Anyone who calls UGA middle tier SEC is a fool – 1 sub par year doesnt do that.
Peter
December 14th, 2009
5:08 pm
I can tell you Bud Foster is the best DC in the country. All you “experts” just go look at his recruiting classes. Three star recruits with 1 or 2 Fours every year. He does a lot more with less. Second Georgia has been a better program in the past but because they play in the SEC doesn’t mean they are better. At best right now Foster would be making a lateral move and that’s it. They held closer to Alabama than Florida which is I believe a team that whooped up on your dawgs.
Dan A.
December 14th, 2009
5:09 pm
GT Joe –
We’re not really concerned about your offense. As you already know, we can run the ball all over your asses, and you can’t do a damned thing about it. So maybe you can run the ball against a Bud Foster defense, but it really doesn’t matter, because the way things are going for you, you’ll never be able to get our offense off the field.
Bob
December 14th, 2009
5:09 pm
“When was the last time South Carolina won the SEC? Answer: Never.”
When was the last time that UGA won the SEC East (we won’t even discuss, the whole conference)? Answer: when Zook was coach at UF. Since Zook is long gone, it’s likely to never happen again. You clowns who think UGA is on par with Bama, UF and LSU are kidding yourselves. Give Chizik another year at Auburn and Kiffin a couple more recruiting classes at Tennessee at and UGA will be behind them too.
So, let’s see, the short term forecast for UGA is to continue to get their butts kick by the real SEC teams (i.e., the teams that put the SEC ahead of the rest of the conferences) and longer term they will be passed by at least 2 other SEC teams.
Why in the world would a coach like Foster take a lateral move to a declining program?
swimdawg68
December 14th, 2009
5:09 pm
Talked to a former Clemson player he said “You do not want Koenning”. Others have said the same thing even some folks in the UGA Athletic Program. I hope Mark is listening. Foster would be a great hire. He turned down Spurrier because it was SC. He would not turn down UGA a much better program than SC.
can he make the adjustment from
December 14th, 2009
5:12 pm
..high school to college……and will he be okay with coaching on Saturdays since the Acc plays on Thursdays…lmfao buggoes..30 to 24..348 days till next year!!!!! bring ole alligator mouth johnson and his otis jowls and frankenstein head over to athens..i could stop his four horseman offense!!!!!!!!!!
Peter
December 14th, 2009
5:13 pm
Dan A., we played the toughest team in the SEC, which I believe was left off of your schedule.
Tech75
December 14th, 2009
5:15 pm
Go ahead and get Foster if you can (you can’t). Would love to see it.
If you think you have a lot of players in trouble now….