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Jim Foster |
Jim Foster Named Head Baseball Coach
Jim Foster realized a dream on August 16, 2005, when he was named head baseball coach at the University of Rhode Island. Foster had served as Rhode Island’s pitching coach and worked with the team’s catchers this past season.
“We are excited to have Jim Foster accept the appointment as head coach. His impressive professional and collegiate baseball experiences have certainly prepared him to provide the leadership for continuing the recent success URI baseball has enjoyed,” Director of Athletics Tom McElroy said. “Jim was a major contributor on this year’s Atlantic 10 Championship team and URI’s first-ever NCAA Championship squad. During the year, Jim earned the professional and personal respect of the student-athletes, parents, athletic administrators and staff, and opponents.”
Born on Aug. 18, 1971, the Warwick, R.I., native has a strong baseball background. Foster was an All-Big East and two-time All-New England selection at Providence. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and spent seven years in the organization. He also played in the Arizona Diamondbacks, Anaheim Angels, and Chicago White Sox farm systems. He was named Baseball Weekly’s Minor League Catcher of the Year in 1997 and was named to the Topps All-Rookie Team in 1993.
Foster retired from baseball after spending 10 years in the minor leagues. He spent two years as an assistant coach at Brown, where he served as hitting coach and worked with the team’s catchers.
Foster came to Rhode Island as an assistant to head coach Frank Leoni ’91 a year ago. The Rams finished in the top 30 nationally in earned run averages, and two of his pitchers were taken in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, Zack Zuercher ’04 by the St. Louis Cardinals and Mick Lefort by the Chicago Cubs. For his efforts, Foster was nominated for the NCAA Pitching Coach of the Year. Rhode Island won the Atlantic 10 Championship and advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the first time, finishing the season with a 34-21 record (18-6 in the Atlantic 10).
“I appreciate the confidence shown in me by Tom McElroy and the University. I am excited about the opportunity afforded,” Foster said. “We have a solid nucleus of players returning and I look to continue the success of the last few years.”
He inherits a team that posted a 34-21 record a year ago, won the Atlantic 10 Championship for the first time and advanced to the NCAA Regionals.
Foster replaces Leoni, who resigned to accept the head coaching position at William & Mary.
