Coaching Staff
JIM FOSTER Head Coach Fourth Season Alma Mater • Providence '93
[ w w w. G o R h o d y. co m ]
Jim Foster enters his fourth season as head coach of the Rhode Island baseball program in 2008-09. In his first year at the helm of the program, Foster led the team to a 34-16 record, including a 19-6 finish in the Atlantic 10. The Rams claimed their fourth-consecutive regular-season title and had six different individuals named to the All-Conference teams, including 2006 Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year Steve Holmes, who led the nation with a 1.30 ERA. In his third season heading the URI baseball program, Foster led the team to an overall record of 31-27-1, tallying more victories than any other Division I team in New England. Rhody finished with a 15-11-1 record in league play, earning the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. There, the Rams took down No. 4 Temple (7-1) and top-seeded Xavier (11-4) before being eliminated in the semifinals.
A native of Warwick, R.I. Foster served as Rhode Island's pitching coach and also worked with the team's catchers prior to his appointment as head coach. The Rams' earned run average ranked them in the top-35 nationally in both 2005 and 2006 as three of Foster's pitchers went on to sign professional contracts in the two-year span (Zack Zuercher/St. Louis Cardinals/2005, Mick Lefort/Chicago Cubs/2005 and Steve Holmes/New York Mets/2006). For his efforts, Foster was nominated for the 2005 NCAA Pitching Coach of the Year award. Also in 2005, Foster helped lead Rhode Island to the Atlantic 10 Championship title as well as the program's first trip to the NCAA Regionals, finishing the season with a 34-21 record (18-6 in the A-10).
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 For his career, Foster owns an 88-73-1 (.546) record and is 50-28-1 (.634) years with the organization. He also played in the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the Atlantic 10. Most recently, he was selected to coach the D-I squad Anaheim Angels and Chicago White Sox farm systems. He was named (alongside Bob Whalen of Dartmouth) at 2008 New England Intercollegiate Baseball Weekly's Minor League Catcher of the Year in 1997 and was Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-Star Game at Fenway Park. named to the Topps All-Rookie Team in 1993. Most recently, Foster was selected as the A-10's Coach on the Rise in Rivals. com's 2009 Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll and was tabbed the conference's best game coach in CollegeBaseballInsider's preseason preview.
Foster retired after spending 10 years in the minor leagues. He then spent two years as an assistant coach at Brown where he served as hitting coach and worked with the team's catchers.
Coach Foster is known for his excellence in player development as he helped mold Steve Holmes into one of the top pitchers in the nation in 2006. Holmes finised the year wth 10 wins and led country with a 1.30 earned run average.
Coach Foster stresses the importance of community involvement and often times the entire Rhody baseball team will participate in events such as the Southern New England Walk Now for Autism event.
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2009 University of Rhode Island Baseball