Tim Foster - Football Coach - Mercer University Athletics

Tim Foster

Title:
Co-Offensive Coordinator / Jokers
Email:
Foster_tp@mercer.edu
Phone:
(478) 301-4605

Tim Foster became head football coach Drew Cronic's first hire at Mercer when he was named the co-offensive coordinator on Dec. 16, 2019. He enters his second season as part of Cronic's staff in 2021.

In year one, Foster and co-offensive coordinator Bob Bodine helped the team win five contests - all in Southern Conference action - with three wins coming over ranked foes. The Bears' offense made positive strides in the spring as quarterback Carter Peevy took over under center. Peevy, a true freshman in 2020-21, finished his first collegiate season ranked second in the conference in passing yards (1,318) while being third in completion percentage (54.3 pct.), passing efficiency (133.0) and passing touchdowns (8). In Mercer's win over No. 17 Furman, the freshman signal caller became the first quarterback in program history to throw for at least 400 yards in a single game with 406 yards through the air and two touchdowns. Peevy was just one of 11 Bears to earn All-SoCon postseason honors.

Foster also doubled as the position coach for the jokers. A trio of players - Deondre Johnson, Brandon Marshall and Ethan Dirrim led the position group. Johnson carried the ball 62 times for 386 yards (6.2 avg.) and four touchdowns on the season and added a receiving touchdown and kickoff return for a touchdown as well. His six touchdowns were the fourth-most in the SoCon and placed him 25th nationally. He ran for 158 yards and two TDs in the final game of the 2021 season at Samford (April 17). The 158 yards were the seventh-most in a single game by a Mercer Bear. Marshall had the fourth-most rushing yards on the team in 2021 with 273 and found the endzone three times, while Dirrim had 473 receiving yards and four touchdowns with his first 100-yard game coming against Furman (April 3)

A native of Suwanee, Ga., Foster his last two seasons prior to Mercer as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers/tight ends coach under Cronic at Lenoir-Rhyne, helping lead the Bears to an impressive 25-3 record and back-to-back South Atlantic Conference championships.

Foster guided the Bears to a top 20 ranking nationally in passing yards per completion (15.43) which aided the top scoring offense in the SAC at 42.00 points per game. Overall, the 2019 season was one for the record books for the Bears, tying a school record with 13 wins and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

In 2018, Foster directed wide receiver T.J. Smith and freshman tight end Drake Starks to second team all-conference honors. Smith became just the fifth player in school history to record a 1,000-yard receiving season and ranks third for single-season receiving yards.

Foster moved to LR after an outstanding three-year stint as an assistant coach at Reinhardt (2015-17), an NAIA school in Waleska, Ga. In his last year, the Eagles went 12-1 on the year and earned a berth in the NAIA National Championship game. Reinhardt led the nation in rushing (359.8 ypg) and ranked fifth in scoring offense at 47.0 points per contest.

In 2016, Reinhardt went 13-1 on the year and advanced to the national semifinals – ranking first in scoring offense (51.4 ppg) and rushing offense (360.0 ypg). In his three years with the Eagles, Foster served as wide receivers, tight ends, z-backs, field goal team and return coach and video coordinator. Reinhardt also won three straight Mid-South Conference Championships.

Prior to Reinhardt, Foster coached at his alma mater, Maryville College in Tennessee, for two years as defensive graduate assistant, linebackers coach and video coordinator. Foster was part of the 2013 USA South Conference Championship squad.

Foster was a two-sport athlete at Maryville – playing tight end/wide receiver and on the men’s basketball team – before earning his bachelor’s degree in communications from the college in 2012.

Foster and his wife, Amanda, have two sons, Jaxon and Levi.

Collegiate Coaching Timeline:

2019-Pres. – Mercer University
- Co-Offensive Coordinator
2018-2019 – Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Passing Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers / Tight Ends / Recruiting Coordinator
2015-2017 – Reinhardt University
- Wide Receivers / Tight Ends / Special Teams / Video Coordinator
2013-2014 – Maryville College (Tenn.)
- Defensive Assistant / Linebackers / Video Coordinator