Buddy Foster joined The W Athletics in 2020-21 and assumed the role of Director of Athletics on February 23, 2024. He joined The W as the head coach of the Owls softball program before being elevated to a full-time administrative role in July 2023 as the Assistant Athletics Director.
Foster twice served stints as the Interim A.D. for The W, as well.
Among his duties for the university, Foster oversees gameday operations and staffing, internal operational procedures for staff members, represents the Owls' program in the community, conference, and nation, and cultivates relationships with businesses and former student-athletes. Additionally, he is key in dealing with facility issues and needs, as well as scheduling and budgets.
Additionally, Foster sits on the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee. The group hears appeals from the membership regarding eligibility.
Foster leads an Owls' staff of 16 full-time members, as well as the department's graduate assistant program.
In 2024-25, Foster's leadership once again helped the Owls soar to new heights in all areas. In the classroom, The W student-athletes accomplished a departmental grade point average of 3.23 for the year. 124 academic honors from conference and national organizations, with 55% of all student-athletes making the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (3.0 GPA and above), and 45 student-athletes achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA. On the fields of competition, more than 100 national, regional, and conference awards
were bestowed on Owls’ student-athletes in 2024-25, including two all-America honors, four all-region accolades, 40 all-conference selections, and 27 league awards (including one Player of the Year and a Coach of the Year).
Foster oversaw the university's transition to full NCAA Division III membership in 2023-24, as well as membership in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). And Foster's impact was obvious, as the Owls' accomplishments included the University's first-ever SLIAC championship - and NCAA III championship appearance (men's golf) - a departmental GPA of 3.22, 38 All-SLIAC players, 26 conference Player of the Week awards, two all-region honors, 13 (of 17) MUW teams participating in their respective conference post-season tournaments, 55 conference all-academic accolades, 25 Academic All-District awards, one CSC Academic All-American, and two teams (volleyball & women's soccer) honored on the national level for academic prowess.
Foster has also advocated for a stronger presence by Owls' student-athletes and staff at campus and civic activities, along with a renewed effort to enhance the athletics' branding and marketing.
A veteran of more than 35 years of intercollegiate athletics experience, Foster earned his master's degree in education from Greenville College in 2014. He completed a bachelor's degree in liberal arts at Southeast Missouri State University in 1991.
Foster and his wife Patty reside in Amory, Mississippi. The couple are "fur parents" to dogs Katie, Lucy and Harper, along with their cat Maui.
