CLARION UNIVERSITY NAMES JAY FOSTER NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Jay Foster, 46, a talented and
respected coach and coordinator, was named Clarion University’s 11th head
football coach since 1926, it was announced today by Athletic Director Dave
Katis.
Foster replaces Malen Luke who
resigned following the 2005 season.
Foster comes to Clarion from Slippery
Rock University where he has been a coach for 18 seasons, including the last 17
as Defensive Coordinator or Co-Defensive Coordinator. Also the defensive backs
coach, Foster is a strong recruiter, has a commitment to academics and was
Recruiting Coordinator at Slippery Rock for 12 seasons (1988-2000).
“I am truly honored and excited to
announce that Jay Foster has accepted the position of head football coach at
Clarion,” said Katis. “We feel Jay possesses all the attributes we were looking
for in a head coach,” he continued. “He is highly respected for his coaching
abilities, will be an outstanding recruiter, is committed to graduating
student-athletes and is motivated to be the best. The tradition of Golden Eagle
football is in good hands with Jay Foster as head coach and we welcome him to
Clarion.”
A coach under Dr. George Mihalik at
Slippery Rock, Jay has been part of every win and success during Mihalik’s
18-year reign there. Slippery Rock has an overall record since 1988 of 120-73-4
(61.9%), including 3 NCAA Division II Playoff invitations and 4 PSAC-West
titles. Slippery Rock won four straight PSAC-West crowns from 1997-2000, was an
NCAA Division II semifinalist in 1998 and ranked second in the nation in 1999.
“First I’d like to thank Dr.
Grunenwald, Davis Katis and everyone involved in the search process for this
opportunity,” said Foster. “Becoming a head coach has been a dream of mine and
that dream has come true at an outstanding university. Clarion has a proud
tradition of academics, athletics and in football, and I look forward to being
part of the Clarion team. Our priority for our program will be recruiting
quality student athletes that always represent the university and the program in
a first class manner. We will have three goals for our players. First to set
high expectations for each player in the classroom and on the field. Second,
with expectations comes responsibilities and we will expect those
responsibilities to be met. Third is accountability. The players must and will
be held accountable for reaching their primary expectations. Our mission simply
is to provide leadership and set an example for our players to be fully prepared
both on the field and in the classroom. To always perform at the highest level.
With that our program will succeed and the players will be prepared when they
graduate to move on and be successful after football. ”
With Foster at the helm, Slippery
Rock’s defense has ranked #1 in the PSAC against the pass the last two seasons,
and ranked #4 and #5 in total defense respectively. The 2002 squad was ranked #1
in scoring defense and #2 in total defense. In the PSAC-West championship years
(97-2000), Slippery Rock’s defense under Foster was tops in the PSAC.
In 1997 Slippery Rock was 11-2
overall and 6-0 in the PSAC-West, while the defense was ranked #1 in the entire
PSAC in rushing yards (96.2 y/g) and #3 in scoring defense (18.5ppg). In 1998 SR
was 12-2 overall and 6-0 in the PSAC-West, while the defense was #1 in the PSAC
in scoring defense (14.8ppg), #2 against the rush (84.4 y/g) and #1 in total
defense (248.6). The 1999 squad was 10-2 overall and 6-0 in the PSAC-West with
the defense ranking #1 in scoring (19.1ppg), #2 against the run (125.7) and #1
in total defense (282.3 y/g) in the PSAC. In 2000 SR was 8-3 overall and 5-1 in
the PSAC-West. The defense finished #2 in scoring defense (17.2ppg) and #3 in
total defense (296.2).
“We are very proud to have Jay Foster
assume leadership of our football program,” said President Dr. Joseph P.
Grunenwald. “His distinguished coaching career provides strong evidence of his
knowledge and approach to the game. Far more importantly, coach Foster is a man
of strong personal character who is absolutely committed to the academic
performance of his athletes. He will serve as a solid role model for our young
men both on and off the field.”
A native of Berwick, Maine, Jay attended Noble High School and graduated in
1977. He was captain of both the football and basketball teams.
Jay enrolled Plymouth State College
(Plymouth, N.H.) and was graduated in 1985 with a B.S. Degree in Physical
Education. A free safety on the gridiron at Plymouth State, he saw Plymouth
compile and impressive 38-4 record overall record during his stay. A two-year
starter (Jr & Sr), he was an All-New England Conference selection in 1983. The
team was selected for the NCAA Division III Playoffs his senior year (1984).
They were the first New England team to received a D-III Playoff bid.
Foster was a two-year graduate
assistant at West Chester under Danny Hale for the 1986 & 87 seasons. He coached
tights ends and wide receivers for a season, and then outside linebackers the
other. West Chester won two PSAC-East titles. He went to Slippery Rock for the
1988 season prior to coming to Clarion.
What type of team should Clarion fans
come to expect with Foster at the helm?
“We’ll have a hard hitting, physical
football team,” Foster analyzed. “The way the Steelers play is the prototype we
want to emulate for lasting success. Foremost we want to create a team comes
first mentality. On offense we want to be able to establish the running game,
but still have an exciting passing attack. On defense we want to be fast and
physical up front, stop the run, and force teams to pass. We expect to recruit
quality young men from Pennsylvania, with a majority from Western Pennsylvania,
that have a strong work ethic both in the classroom and on the football field.
And we want to create a family atmosphere with the players, coaches, campus and
surrounding community. Those are our goals and they are basic, but they are the
foundations for winning.”
Foster and wife Dorry have three
children including sons Zach and Thom, along with a daughter Brogan. The family
currently resides in Grove City. Jay is the son of John Foster who resides in
Berwick, Maine.
CLARION NOTES: Foster was an AFCA Division II Finalist for the Assistant
Coach of the Year in 2002 .... Foster was also the SR Football Team Academic
Coordinator the last six seasons... His responsibilities including Academic
Tracking of all players, Study Table, and communication on the student athletes
with the SRU Faculty... Slippery Rock had an impressive 12-year streak of
winning seasons from 1991-2002... During that streak SR posted a 94-40 record -
a winning percentage of 70.1%...Clarion has had a rich football tradition over
the years... Since 1926 Clarion has an overall record of 358-300-17 ... Clarion
had its first undefeated season in 1952 when the Golden Eagles were 9-0,
including a 13-6 win over East Carolina in the Lions Bowl Game... Waldo S.
Tippin coached that 1952 team ... He was head coach from 1935-47 and 52-56 ....
Tippin had an overall record of 53-49-3 ... Clarion’s winningest coach was Al
Jacks (1963-81)... Jacks 19-year record was 128-46-5, a winning percentage of
.7290 ... Clarion won 6 PSAC-West titles and 3 PSAC Championships under Jacks
... Jacks by the way, came to Clarion from Slippery Rock to become the head
coach in 1963 ... He was an assistant at SR under Chuck Godlasky ... Charles
Ruslavage, a long-time defensive coordinator under Jacks, was the head coach in
1982 and was 7-3 overall ... Gene Sobolewski was the Eagle boss from 1983-93 and
compiled a 60-51 record (54.1%) ... Sobolewski won two PSAC-West titles in 1983
and 1992, along with a PSAC crown in 1983... Clarion also captured PSAC-West
crowns in 1996 and 2000 under coach Luke, who finished his career (1994-2005)
with a record of 57-73... Clarion, at one time, had the longest consecutive
season winning streak in the nation 22-years, from 1964-1985 ... The Eagles also
had the longest consecutive non-losing season streak of 27-years from
1961-1988... At that time, only Penn State had a longer streak and teams like
Nebraska (26) and Ohio State (21) were behind Clarion.
1926-2005 CLARION FOOTBALL COACHES & RECORDS
COACH
YEAR
RECORD PCT.
AL JACKS
1963-81 128-46-5
.7290
CHARLES RUSLAVAGE 1982
7-3-0
.7000
BOB MOORE
1948-49 10-6-0
.6250
GENE SOBOLEWSKI 1983-93
60-51-0
.5405
WALDO S. TIPPIN
1935-47 & 53-49-3
.5190
1952-56
ERNEST JOHNSON 1957-62
23-23-3 .5000
BENTON KRIBBS
1950-51 6-7-1
.4642
MALEN LUKE
1994-05
57-73-0 .4384
A.R. Von Lehsten
1926
1-2-2
.4000
J.O. JONES
1927-34
13-40-3 .2589
TOTAL
1926-05
358-300-17 .5430
*Coaches Ranked by winning percentage