Football
Chris Foster
- Title:
- Running Backs
Chris Foster enters his first season as the team’s running backs coach.
He comes to Gainesville after serving as the running backs coach at Duke in 2025.
“Coach Foster has tremendous experience and brings a great track record as a teacher of the game and getting the most out of his players,” Sumrall said. “He is a proven leader and developer of talent. I look forward to seeing what he will accomplish with our running backs here in Gainesville.”
In 2025, Foster and the Blue Devils captured the program’s first outright ACC title since 1962. Under his guidance, freshman running back Nate Sheppard to a fantastic season, ranking second in the conference in rushing yards with 962 to go with 10 touchdowns. Sheppard averaged 5.4 yards per carry on the year and earned Second-Team All-ACC honors.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be at the University of Florida, a place built on excellence and championships, and to serve alongside Coach Sumrall, a true leader and proven winner,” Foster said. “This is an opportunity I embrace with pride and excitement for what’s ahead.”
Foster arrived at Duke after a two-year stint (2023-24) at Northwestern University serving as the running backs coach. During his time in Evanston, Foster helped the Wildcats to a 14-7 victory against Utah in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl to cap the 2023 campaign.
Before his tenure at Northwestern, Foster spent two seasons at East Carolina serving as the recruiting coordinator and running backs coach. In 2022, Pirate running backs rushed for 5.2 yards per carry, the second-highest total in the American Athletic Conference.
The ECU running backs room was led by Keaton Mitchell, a Pro Football Focus All-America honorable mention selection who ranked second in the nation with 7.2 yards per carry. Mitchell rushed for 1,452 yards which ranked second highest in the conference and 12th in the country. Powered by Foster's rushing attack, the Pirates posted an 8-5 record in 2022 and knocked off Coastal Carolina 53-29 in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.
In 2021, East Carolina went 7-5 and averaged 170.4 ground yards per game. In his initial season with Foster, Mitchell became the first East Carolina running back to average more than 100 yards per game since NFL All-Pro Chris Johnson in 2007. Mitchell ranked ninth in the country with his 6.5 yards per carry average.
Prior to his time at East Carolina, Foster spent five years as the running backs coach, recruiting coordinator and associate head coach at Georgia Southern, where he mentored future NFL running back Matt Breida. Foster joined the Eagles staff in 2016 as the running backs coach and was elevated to recruiting coordinator in 2018, before taking on the role of associate head coach in 2019.
In his final season at Georgia Southern, the Eagle running backs finished sixth in the country with 267.1 rushing yards per game and combined for 2,427 yards and 17 touchdowns. Foster was a nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant coach.
Foster made a one-year stop at Maryville (Tenn.) College before arriving at Georgia Southern. His rushing attack averaged 257.4 yards per game and tallied 29 ground TDs. Foster mentored lead rusher Deshjion Whitlock, who was a first team all-conference pick after averaging 5.9 yards per carry and totaling 906 rushing yards and 13 scores.
Foster coached three seasons (2012-13-14) at Appalachian State, where he developed a trio of all-conference selections and a pair of FCS All-America choices. With Foster’s guidance, Marcus Cox set ASU rookie records with 1,250 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns en route to being named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and placing second in voting for the Jerry Rice Award (NCAA Division I FCS Freshman of the Year) in 2013.
Foster started his coaching career at his alma mater, Gardner-Webb, where he led the running backs for eight seasons beginning in 2004 and helped produce a No. 1 total offense ranking in the Big South Conference. He also served as the Gardner-Webb staff's primary academic advisor and top recruiter, while additionally providing oversight of the program's strength and conditioning activities on an interim basis in 2006.
A native of Chesnee, S.C., Foster was a four-year letterwinner (2000-01-02-03) as a running back at Gardner-Webb. The team captain earned two All-Big South awards and ranked sixth in GWU history at the time of his graduation with 1,883 career rushing yards. He excelled in the classroom as a two-time first-team academic all-district honoree and was one of only two student-athletes in team history to earn the prestigious recognition multiple times.
Foster graduated from Gardner-Webb with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 2004. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Journei and Bella.
Chris Foster Coaching History
He comes to Gainesville after serving as the running backs coach at Duke in 2025.
“Coach Foster has tremendous experience and brings a great track record as a teacher of the game and getting the most out of his players,” Sumrall said. “He is a proven leader and developer of talent. I look forward to seeing what he will accomplish with our running backs here in Gainesville.”
In 2025, Foster and the Blue Devils captured the program’s first outright ACC title since 1962. Under his guidance, freshman running back Nate Sheppard to a fantastic season, ranking second in the conference in rushing yards with 962 to go with 10 touchdowns. Sheppard averaged 5.4 yards per carry on the year and earned Second-Team All-ACC honors.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be at the University of Florida, a place built on excellence and championships, and to serve alongside Coach Sumrall, a true leader and proven winner,” Foster said. “This is an opportunity I embrace with pride and excitement for what’s ahead.”
Foster arrived at Duke after a two-year stint (2023-24) at Northwestern University serving as the running backs coach. During his time in Evanston, Foster helped the Wildcats to a 14-7 victory against Utah in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl to cap the 2023 campaign.
Before his tenure at Northwestern, Foster spent two seasons at East Carolina serving as the recruiting coordinator and running backs coach. In 2022, Pirate running backs rushed for 5.2 yards per carry, the second-highest total in the American Athletic Conference.
The ECU running backs room was led by Keaton Mitchell, a Pro Football Focus All-America honorable mention selection who ranked second in the nation with 7.2 yards per carry. Mitchell rushed for 1,452 yards which ranked second highest in the conference and 12th in the country. Powered by Foster's rushing attack, the Pirates posted an 8-5 record in 2022 and knocked off Coastal Carolina 53-29 in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.
In 2021, East Carolina went 7-5 and averaged 170.4 ground yards per game. In his initial season with Foster, Mitchell became the first East Carolina running back to average more than 100 yards per game since NFL All-Pro Chris Johnson in 2007. Mitchell ranked ninth in the country with his 6.5 yards per carry average.
Prior to his time at East Carolina, Foster spent five years as the running backs coach, recruiting coordinator and associate head coach at Georgia Southern, where he mentored future NFL running back Matt Breida. Foster joined the Eagles staff in 2016 as the running backs coach and was elevated to recruiting coordinator in 2018, before taking on the role of associate head coach in 2019.
In his final season at Georgia Southern, the Eagle running backs finished sixth in the country with 267.1 rushing yards per game and combined for 2,427 yards and 17 touchdowns. Foster was a nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant coach.
Foster made a one-year stop at Maryville (Tenn.) College before arriving at Georgia Southern. His rushing attack averaged 257.4 yards per game and tallied 29 ground TDs. Foster mentored lead rusher Deshjion Whitlock, who was a first team all-conference pick after averaging 5.9 yards per carry and totaling 906 rushing yards and 13 scores.
Foster coached three seasons (2012-13-14) at Appalachian State, where he developed a trio of all-conference selections and a pair of FCS All-America choices. With Foster’s guidance, Marcus Cox set ASU rookie records with 1,250 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns en route to being named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and placing second in voting for the Jerry Rice Award (NCAA Division I FCS Freshman of the Year) in 2013.
Foster started his coaching career at his alma mater, Gardner-Webb, where he led the running backs for eight seasons beginning in 2004 and helped produce a No. 1 total offense ranking in the Big South Conference. He also served as the Gardner-Webb staff's primary academic advisor and top recruiter, while additionally providing oversight of the program's strength and conditioning activities on an interim basis in 2006.
A native of Chesnee, S.C., Foster was a four-year letterwinner (2000-01-02-03) as a running back at Gardner-Webb. The team captain earned two All-Big South awards and ranked sixth in GWU history at the time of his graduation with 1,883 career rushing yards. He excelled in the classroom as a two-time first-team academic all-district honoree and was one of only two student-athletes in team history to earn the prestigious recognition multiple times.
Foster graduated from Gardner-Webb with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 2004. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Journei and Bella.
Chris Foster Coaching History
| Year | Position, School |
|---|---|
| 2026-pres. | Running Backs Coach, Florida |
| 2025 | Running Backs Coach, Duke |
| 2023-24 | Running Backs Coach, Northwestern |
| 2021-22 | Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs, East Carolina |
| 2019-20 | Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/RB, Georgia Southern |
| 2018 | Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs, Georgia Southern |
| 2016-17 | Running Backs Coach, Georgia Southern |
| 2015 | Running Backs Coach, Maryville |
| 2012-14 | Running Backs Coach, Appalachian State |
| 2004-11 | Running Backs Coach, Gardner-Webb |
Florida Football | Sean Kelley, Coach Sumrall, Coach Spurrier, and Coach Meyer
Friday, December 12
Florida Football | Head Coach Jon Sumrall Sits Down with Gator Greats Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer
Friday, December 12
Florida Football | Urban Meyer & Nick Saban Interview | 2025 NFF Annual Awards Dinner
Wednesday, December 10
Coach Meyer and Coach Saban - Hall of Fame 12-09-25
Wednesday, December 10
