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
dawgvent.blogspot.com
December 14th, 2009
6:57 pm
Opinion…GA has won two national championships, and finished the season with a number one ranking on five seperate occasions. While Tech has won four, they have not had a consensus number one since 1952…so as far as your money to smarts arguments are concerned, I highly doubt those same points would receive much validity when comparing the institutions to when Tech actually won those titles in 1917 and 1928. Please make relevant points when trying to argue your schools greatness.
Dan A.
December 14th, 2009
6:57 pm
dawgvent.blogspot.com….
That report is nowhere to be found on the Washington Post’s website… and you would think you would see something about it under their “Virginia Tech Sports” section.
dawgvent.blogspot.com
December 14th, 2009
6:58 pm
From the Washington Post: (6:20PM)
Foster staying at Va. Tech
Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster is staying in Blacksburg.
On Monday, the university offered a new financial package that will keep Foster in place at Virginia Tech. Foster, who has been the Hokies’ defensive coordinator for the past 15 seasons, had been approached by several schools about their defensive coordinator openings.
He said he was contacted by Florida Coach Urban Meyer and Florida State Coach Jimbo Fisher about the defensive coordinator vacancies at both their programs, but Georgia made the most serious overture toward Foster.
“Coach Beamer has been extremely good to me,” Foster said. “I want to ride this thing out with him. We’ve been doing this along time together and there’s not reason to stop there, and let’s finish this thing. It’s a good deal all the way around. I’m extremely pleased.”
The financial terms of the new arrangement were not immediately available.
***On a personal note…that’s unfortunate.
Karl
December 14th, 2009
6:59 pm
PJ,
I was like you until I did some more research. I was at first all for Dick Bumpas then I found out Patterson called the D. Looking deeper I found that Patterson was actually coached in college by Bumpas and then Bumpas hired Patterson at K.State as a grad assistant and they worked together in a couple of different areas before he rejoined Patterson at TCU and he has quite a stellar track record before that so I feel that Bumpas should be seriously considered for the position. The man can definitely coach. Check it out. I would say Smart, Foster, and Bumpas should be top 3 candidates. Unless Will wants to come home but I don’t see that happening unless he is the Head Coach.
Years Title Location
2004-Present Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Line Coach TCU
2003 Defensive Coordinator & Linebacker Coach Western Michigan
1999-2003 Co-Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach & Linebacker Coach Houston
1995-1998 Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Line Coach Navy
1992-1994 Defensive Coordinator & Assistant Head Coach Utah State
1990-1992 Defensive Line Coach Notre Dame
1989 Defensive Line Coach Arkansas
1985-1989 Linebacker Coach & Special Teams Coach Tennessee
1983-1984 Defensive Coordinator & Assistant Head Coach Tennessee Tech
1981-1982 Defensive Line Coach Kansas State
1979-1980 Defensive Line Coach Air Force
1978 Defensive Line Coach Army
BIO
Dick Bumpas joined TCU in February 2004 as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.
Bumpas first worked with Horned Frog coach Gary Patterson at Kansas State in the early 1980s. He was the Wildcats’ defensive line coach in 1981 when Patterson was a senior linebacker. Patterson then became a Kansas State graduate assistant in 1982 and joined Bumpas on staff.
The duo also worked together at Utah State from 1992-94 and at Navy in 1995. At both places, Bumpas was the defensive coordinator while Patterson was the secondary coach.
Bumpas was a 2008 finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach. TCU led the nation in total defense (217.8 yards per game), run defense (47.1 yards per game) and fewest first downs allowed per game (12.1) while placing second in scoring defense (11.3 points per game) and sacks (43) and fourth in pass efficiency defense (97.9).
Bumpas mentored Horned Frog defensive end Jerry Hughes into consensus All-America honors and being a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award. Hughes had never played on defense until arriving at TCU.
All four of TCU’s starting defensive linemen in 2008 were named All-MWC. In addition to Hughes being a first-team selection, seniors Cody Moore and defensive end Matt Panfil enjoyed their best seasons in 2008 and were both second-team picks. Defensive tackle James Vess was an honorable-mention choice.
In 2007, Bumpas was ranked by Rivals.com as the seventh-best defensive coach in the nation.
Bumpas coached defensive ends Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz to first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, Ortiz became TCU’s first three-time first-team all-conference player in 30 years (Mike Renfro, 1975-77). Ortiz signed a free-agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.
The 2006 TCU defense ranked second nationally in run defense (60.8 yards per game) and total defense (234.9 ypg.) while placing third in scoring defense (12.3 points per game).
Bumpas was nominated for the 2005 Frank Broyles National Assistant Coach of the Year award. He was named the Rivals.com National Defensive Coordinator of the Week following the Horned Frogs’ season-opening 17-10 win at Oklahoma. TCU held the Sooners to 225 yards of total offense and the second-lowest point total in coach Bob Stoops’ tenure in Norman.
TCU led the nation in 2005 in turnover margin (+21), interceptions (26) and takeaways (40). The Frogs topped the Mountain West Conference with 41 sacks and allowed just three touchdowns in their final three games, keeping their opponent out of the end zone for 10 quarters from Oct. 29 at San Diego State to the Dec. 31 EV1.net Houston Bowl.
In a coaching career that has spanned 30 years, Bumpas has won championships in four different conferences and coached at all three service academies. He has also coached in 15 bowl games.
Bumpas came to TCU after serving as Western Michigan’s defensive coordinator for one season.
Bumpas worked at the University of Houston from 1999-02, serving as assistant head coach and linebackers coach and later as co-defensive coordinator, installing the 4-2-5 defense in his initial season. Houston finished 25th in the nation in total defense that first year while ranking 20th against the run and 22nd in scoring defense. In 2001, Bumpas coached Wayne Rogers, the Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Prior to his stint at Houston, Bumpas worked four seasons at the U.S. Naval Academy as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. His 1997 Navy unit ranked sixth in total defense and turnover margin. At season’s end, he was invited to coach in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game. In 1996, Bumpas’ defense held California to just three second-half points in an Aloha Bowl victory.
Bumpas spent three seasons (1992-94) as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Utah State, helping the Aggies to a 1993 Big West Championship and a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Ball State. Other coaching stops include two seasons as defensive line coach at Notre Dame (1990-92), during which time he mentored 1990 Lombardi Award winner Chris Zorich. In 1989, Bumpas coached the defensive line at his alma mater, Arkansas, a team that went on to win a Southwest Conference title and advanced to the 1990 Cotton Bowl.
Bumpas coached seven years in the Volunteer state, splitting time between the University of Tennessee (1985-89) as linebackers coach/special teams coordinator and Tennessee Tech (1983-84) as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. While with the Vols, Bumpas coached three bowl championship teams (1986 Sugar, 1986 Liberty, 1988 Peach) and was part of the Southeastern Conference championship in 1985.
Bumpas began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas in 1977. From there, he went to the U.S. Military Academy and implemented a new defense under Homer Smith in 1978. Installing new defenses would become a trend for Bumpas, who did the same thing as defensive line coach at the Air Force Academy during a two-year tenure (1979-80) with the Falcons.
A native of Fort Smith, Ark., Bumpas received three varsity letters and was a captain for the Razorbacks. He was named SWC Defensive Player of the Year in 1970, earning consensus All-America honors at defensive tackle. He received a Bachelor’s degree in education from Arkansas in 1973. He went on to play tight end and linebacker professionally for the Memphis Southmen in the World Football League and the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.
Bumpas was a 2006 inductee into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor.
Fuuf
December 14th, 2009
7:00 pm
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/hokies-journal/2009/12/foster_staying_at_va_tech.html
dawgvent.blogspot.com
December 14th, 2009
7:00 pm
Dan,
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/hokies-journal/2009/12/foster_staying_at_va_tech.html
Listed under the “Hokies Journal”
dawgvent.blogspot.com
December 14th, 2009
7:02 pm
Thank you Fuuf…beat me to it.
Dan A.
December 14th, 2009
7:03 pm
But there is no link to it on the Washington Post’s sports page, or in their Hokies section. A bit odd, don’t you think? I’m just searching their VT sports page to try and find the story to verify it and make sure it isn’t a gag.
Dan A.
December 14th, 2009
7:07 pm
Found it now, thanks.
Frank Beamer
December 14th, 2009
7:08 pm
He can npt stop the option! Better call Willie Back!
Hmmmmm
December 14th, 2009
7:11 pm
Darn. Would have love to have seen what Foster could do in the SEC.
Gordon Sumner
December 14th, 2009
7:11 pm
Bob, next time get your “facts” straight. UGA tied for first in the East in 2007 and won the SEC in 2005 which was Urban Meyer’s first year at Florida.
joe
December 14th, 2009
7:13 pm
“I don’t understand why any coordinator at a program like VT would make a lateral move to UGA.”
Going from Va Tech to UGA is not a lateral move. Same position, but a better program with more resources, high school talent, better facilities, and of course the SEC.
Down
December 14th, 2009
7:16 pm
Signed an extension with Va Tech
Casteel to Gators?
December 14th, 2009
7:16 pm
People seem to think Meyer wants a 3-3-5 guy like Jeff Casteel. Interesting choice to try and combat Georgia’s passing attack.
Opinion
December 14th, 2009
7:17 pm
4 of the 5 first place finishes that dawg post is speaking of are 1st place finishes from the UGA poll, sorry to inform you School polls alone do not count for National Championships
Again for you UGA fans, you might of been the better team for one day out of the year but for the rest of the year, you need to take a look at this:
#1: Alabama
#9: Georgia Tech
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
V
#41: UGA
and…..wait on it…..the Advocare Inventory V100 Shreveport Bowl…..hahahahahaha!!!!
Former Georgian
December 14th, 2009
7:23 pm
I don’t see why Richt would want to hire a coach from an ACC team that wasn’t even one of the ACC division champions who lost to mediocre SEC teams. I am not at all impressed at the way his defenses rank nationally-look who they (don’t) play. Remember, even Willie was better than the offense and defense of the #1 ACC team.
Eskimo Joe
December 14th, 2009
7:24 pm
Foster doesn’t want to go up against SEC teams every week, that will hurt his stats. We need a guy who is good at total defense yards, scoring, and Takeaways: Ok, Texas, Bama, etc. Pollack thinks it’s Smart’s to lose. Pollack says Smart was sighted in Athens last Friday, Dec. 11. If we get Smart, we also hurt Bama, an SEC rival.
It’d be nice to go ahead and announce the new DC Smart before the Natl Championship for recruiting purposes, we could snatch some great defensive recruits.
OrangeBowlBound
December 14th, 2009
7:40 pm
Foster would be a great addition for UGA but I only see him leaving if it is significantly more money. He has a nice job now with a great program who is consistently a contender in the ACC and BCS, he makes good money, and has good job security. Why leave all of that to go to UGA unless the money is big? If he was really that worried about coaching in the SEC then he would have took Spurriers offer couple of years ago.
Happydawg
December 14th, 2009
8:28 pm
Bud Foster is not better than WIllie Martinez. Willie’s players stunk, not Willie. BRING BACK WILLIE!
VTechaholic
December 15th, 2009
5:24 am
Now, all of you UGA fans can come down off your high horse, because guess what………that’s right you didn’t get Bud Foster. It looks like your program and it’s money and it’s conference isn’t as appealing as you thought. LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now move on to the next coach and go speculate about him and try and dissect the program he works for, so you can make yourselves feel good again.
Alabama Dog
December 16th, 2009
4:21 pm
VTechaholic: You guys can HAVE Bud Foster. As I recall in the ‘06 Chik-Fil-A Bowl, this “mighty defensive genius’” defense blew a HUGE 1st half lead against the Dawgs and ended up LOSING the game!!!!! Keep him-we don’t need another DC who can’t get it done! That’s why we’re replacing the one we had!!!!
Eric A
January 4th, 2010
9:06 pm
Virginia Tech usually gets a 20th or so recruiting class every year, yet they develop their athletes to be top 20, 15, and 10 teams consistently. They have 10 win seasons the last 6 years in a row (only Texas is higher). UGA has consistently received impressive top 10 recruiting classes every year for as long as I remember. Though improbable, UGA would be amazing on the D side with Foster and props to them if they can get him. His lunch pail philosophy teaches and inspires hard work and accountability is taken seriously. The sad reality is Foster deserves to be a head coach at a high level school and for this he likely awaits. His name floats around every year more and more at open positions; his time will come. UGA will have to work hard for him. Good luck to the Dawgs!
What does Richt’s list look like right now? « Red, Black and Three Sheets to the Wind
January 12th, 2010
4:02 am
[...] his duties with Alabama for the season. Showing an unwillingness to compromise, Richt talked with Bud Foster and John Chavis, along with Vic Koenning. I think if any one of those guys had expressed strong [...]
Tech4Life
January 13th, 2010
10:56 pm
The arrogance of SEC fans amaze me. There are only 2 or 3 teams in the SEC that really play big boy football and Georgia is not one of them. Try scheduling tougher out of conference and then you can have a conversation. Maybe Tennessee (same team that lost to Alabama at the last second) should be asked how it felt to be out classed on both sides of the ball. If you want to see big boy ACC football, schedule a one and one and come to Lane. That would be fun even if you had Bud Foster.