Mocs March into March Madness With a Hall of Fame Coach in Jim Foster

   When Jim Foster was introduced as UTC’s new coach in May of 2013, assistant Katie Burrows couldn’t believe it.

"When (athletic director) David Blackburn pulled me aside and told me who they had hired, I almost had a heart attack. David actually asked me, do you know who that is? I was like ummm, have I been living under a rock."

   One month after getting the UTC job, Foster went into the Hall of Fame.

And later in 2014, he picked up his 800th career win.

So what makes Foster such an accomplished coach?

Said assistant Brittany Johnson,"He’s just so intelligent with the game. I mean I’m over here on the side going through a walk-through on scouting, and I’m like wow, that is a good idea."

Said Burrows,"Just his attention to detail. Attention to different detail that I’ve never really thought about before."

   And for a legendary coach, Foster is pretty relaxed.

Said Johnson,"He’s not all like crazy and in your face. He’s very laid back. He knows how to talk to people."

Said guard Alicia Payne,"He’s not a coach that tries to dictate everything you do. He tells us to go out and play. Just gives us a lot of freedom, so I really like that about him."

  A conversation with Foster can also be rather entertaining.

Said Burrows,"Well you notice the awkward silence. That’s called thinking before you speak. Some of us don’t have that, but he does." (laughter)

Foster during a press conference,"I think you instruct your team to win every game. (pause) End of discussion."

Said Johnson,"Or he’ll say something really intelligent, and the girls are like wait, what? What did he say? He’ll be like all right, let me say it differently."

    Foster’s record certainly speaks for itself.

He hasn’t lost a SoCon game in his two years with the Mocs.

Said Johnson,"He’s really making a difference. He’s putting Chattanooga on the map."