Buddy Foster
Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Buddy Foster, a successful NCAA Division I softball head coach at Bradley University and an outstanding primary recruiting assistant at two other Division I schools, was named as the associate head coach for the SIUE softball program in 2011.
 
Foster oversees the development of SIUE's pitchers, catchers, and assists with overall game management. Off the field, he is the Cougars' recruiting coordinator and works with alumni relations, scheduling and compliance as well as assists with fund-raising and academics.
 
Foster most recently served one season as an associate head coach at the University of Kansas until the Kansas head coach's retirement. He spent three seasons as the head coach at Bradley and was the fourth winningest coach in Braves' history with 63 victories.
 
He led Bradley to its first winning season as a program in more than 10 years with a 25-23 record in 2006. In all three of his seasons at Bradley, the program's grade point average was ranked among the top 25 NCAA Division I schools.
 
Prior to Bradley, Foster spent six years as an assistant coach at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The Salukis posted a 239-103 (.699) overall record and a 103-40 (.720) mark in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play. The Salukis were ranked No. 20 in the final 2005 NFCA regular season poll and set a school record with 67 home runs. Foster also coached Amy Harre who would go on to become the No. 1 draft pick in the 2005 National Pro Fastpitch draft.
 
During his tenure with Southern Illinois, he helped coach 14 first team All-MVC picks, 19 first team All-MVC scholar-athletes and three Academic All-Americans.
 
Foster earned a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1991. He worked as a graduate assistant with SEMO's softball program in 1992 and 1993. After a season as an assistant coach for John A. Logan College in 1996, he returned to SEMO in 1998 as a recruiting and travel coordinator as well as pitching coach, guiding a pair of hurlers to OVC Pitcher of the Year honors. SEMO won two OVC regular season crowns and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Katie Wagner
Assistant Coach

Katie Wagner was hired in July 2011 as an assistant coach for the SIUE softball program. Wagner joins the program at an important time in its history. SIUE softball begins year two of play in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 2012 after earning a bid to the OVC Tournament in its first year of eligibility in 2011.
 
She comes to SIUE after coaching and playing at two NCAA Division I rival programs. She coached last season at Saint Louis University and helped SIUC to two NCAA Tournament appearances as a player.
 
Wagner will be the hitting coach for the Cougars. She also will take over a number of administrative duties including travel, recruiting, equipment, apparel, and community service.
 
Wagner continues her coaching career on a performance track that led her to success on and off the field. A Saluki Scholar Athlete in each of her four seasons at SIUC, Wagner helped the Salukis to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007. A second team All-Conference pick as senior and a two-time Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament selection, she ranks ninth in career home runs at SIUC. She ranked second on the team in batting average as a sophomore at .317 and as a junior at .308. She tied for the team lead with 16 multiple-hit games.
 
Wagner, a native of Mount Vernon, was a prep standout. She was named All-South Seven first team pick and the 2004 Prep Athlete of the Year by the Centralia Morning Sentinel. She also earned All-State honors in cross country, track and field (high jump), and basketball.
 
SIUC compiled a 139-66 record during Wagner's four seasons on the field as well as a 62-28 record in MVC play. She also helped the Southern Force ASA team in 2004 to a national championship. After completing her four seasons with the softball program, Wagner also competed in one season each for the Saluki women's basketball program and the track and field team.
 
She earned a bachelor's degree in 2010 in elementary education from SIUC.