Harold E. Foster

Harold E. Foster
Biographical details
Born(1906-05-30)May 30, 1906
Newton, Kansas, U.S.
DiedJune 16, 1996(1996-06-16) (aged 90)
Playing career
1926–1930Wisconsin
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1934–1959Wisconsin
Head coaching record
Overall265–267
Tournaments4–1 (NCAA)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA (1941)
3 Big Ten (1935, 1941, 1947)
Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1964 (profile)
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006

Harold E. "Bud" Foster, (May 30, 1906 – July 16, 1996) was an American basketball player and coach. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Foster prepped at Mason City, Iowa and went on to play at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1926 to 1930. While a player at Wisconsin, he was voted twice All Big Ten Conference and helped lead Wisconsin to a 43–8 three year record.[1] He was born in Newton, Kansas.

After college, Foster played professionally with the Oshkosh All-Stars. He teamed up with fellow Big Ten star (and also a future Hall of Famer) Branch McCracken to lead the All-Stars to a 30–23 victory over the Chicago Majestic and the Midwest professional championship. He went on to play with pro teams in Milwaukee and Chicago.

After his playing career, Foster was named freshman coach of basketball at Wisconsin in 1933. He succeeded Doc Meanwell as head coach a year later, and remained as head coach until 1959. His Wisconsin team won the 1941 NCAA championship.

Foster served as president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and was a member of the Basketball Rules Committee from 1957 to 1966.

Foster's 266 wins remained the most in Wisconsin history until Bo Ryan passed him in 2012; his 267 losses remain a school record.

After coaching the Wisconsin Badgers, Foster broadcast the Badger Basketball games, sharing the booth with Ted Moore.

Awards

In addition to his induction in the National Basketball Hall of Fame (1964), Foster is a member of the University of Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame (1991) as well as the State of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame (1970), Madison Sports Hall of Fame (1966) and Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten Conference) (1934–1959)
1934–35 Wisconsin 15–5 9–3 T–1st
1935–36 Wisconsin 11–9 4–8 8th
1936–37 Wisconsin 8–12 3–9 T–8th
1937–38 Wisconsin 10–10 5–7 7th
1938–39 Wisconsin 10–10 4–8 T–7th
1939–40 Wisconsin 5–15 3–9 9th
1940–41 Wisconsin 20–3 11–1 1st NCAA Champion
1941–42 Wisconsin 14–7 10–5 T–2nd
1942–43 Wisconsin 12–9 6–6 T–4th
1943–44 Wisconsin 12–9 9–3 T–2nd
1944–45 Wisconsin 10–11 4–8 T–6th
1945–46 Wisconsin 4–17 1–11 9th
1946–47 Wisconsin 16–6 9–3 1st NCAA Quarterfinal
1947–48 Wisconsin 12–8 7–5 T–3rd
1948–49 Wisconsin 12–10 5–7 7th
1949–50 Wisconsin 17–5 9–3 2nd
1950–51 Wisconsin 10–12 7–7 T–4th
1951–52 Wisconsin 10–12 5–9 7th
1952–53 Wisconsin 13–9 10–8 5th
1953–54 Wisconsin 12–10 6–8 T–5th
1954–55 Wisconsin 10–12 5–9 T–6th
1955–56 Wisconsin 6–16 4–10 T–8th
1956–57 Wisconsin 5–17 3–11 9th
1957–58 Wisconsin 8–14 3–11 10th
1958–59 Wisconsin 3–19 1–13 10th
Wisconsin: 265–267 143–182
Total: 265–267

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wisconsin 1958–59: Wisconsin basketball fact book". University of Wisconsin–Madison. Retrieved 2010-07-03.