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Skip Foster Joins Brigade Coaching Staff As Offensive Coordinator

October 16, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


Skip Foster, veteran of 24 years of coaching experience including six in the Arena Football League, has been signed as The Kansas City Brigade's new offensive coordinator. Last season, Foster was the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the AFL's Arizona Rattlers who advanced to the AFL playoffs. In the previous season, under his leadership as assistant coach/offensive coordinator, the Columbus Destroyers advanced to the 2007 ArenaBowl.

"We are extremely excited to have Coach Foster join our staff," said Head Coach Kevin Porter. "Skip and I have competed against each other since our days in af2 and as division opponents when we both coached in the AFL's Southern Division. I have always considered him a fierce competitor and a great teacher. The experience that he will bring to our offense will greatly benefit the nucleus of fine players that we have returning on the offensive side of the ball."

Coach Turner indicated that he was anxious to get started. "I am truly excited about joining Coach Kevin Porter's staff with the Kansas City Brigade and, being a Kansas City native, look forward to this opportunity for me. My goal is very simple and that is to do everything in my power to assist Kansas City in returning success to the Brigade franchise and become a playoff competitive team. I know from playing here that Kansas City has the greatest and loudest fans in the league."

Coach Foster also acknowledged his days competing against Coach Porter. "Kevin Porter is a proven successful coach that I have competed against for several years and one which I have a tremendous amount of respect for. As he proved in 2007, leading the Kansas City Brigade, he knows what it takes to put a winner on the field'. When asked what his first priority would be, Coach Foster responded, "Naturally, our first order of business will be to go out in free agency and compete for the type of professionals who can put you in a position to win in the AFL."

So the coaches now work the free agent list for players to play alongside the best of last year's squad who were retained. While teams can talk with free agents, the league has not yet announced a date cleared for signings.

In each of his first four seasons in the AFL, starting quarterbacks on Foster-led offenses averaged over 3,800 yards passing, and never threw for under 3,500. Previous to that, Foster was the Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator of the expansion Austin Wranglers. He led the Wranglers to a 24-24 record in his three seasons, including a 10-6 record during his final season in 2006. Before coaching Austin, Foster served as the Head Coach for the Tulsa Talons of the af2 from 2001-03. He left the team with a combined record of 44-10, an average of almost 15 wins a season, as well as leading the Talons to victory in the 2003 ArenaCup. Foster made history in Tulsa, as he became the only af2 coach to go undefeated at home over three consecutive regular seasons. Foster compiled a record of 82-39-2 as Head Coach at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas before moving to Arena Football. He coached the Red Ravens to six Conference Championships during his 12 seasons as Head Coach. In 1990, Foster led Coffeyville to a national championship and an undefeated season. He was selected Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Coach of the Year in both 1990 and 1991.

Skip took over head coaching duties from his father Dick, who won a national championship with Coffeyville in 1983. They are the only father/son pair in the National Junior College Athletic Association to win a national championship at the same school. Foster was inducted into the Coffeyville Hall of Fame in 2001. Skip is a dedicated family man, born in Kansas City and lives in Coffeyville, Kansas during the off-season with his with wife Gay. He has three children: Spencer 23, Shelby Leigh 11, and Patrick Gage 8. Foster is a graduate of Missouri Western State College with a degree in Education, and also played for his father at Coffeyville from 1979-1980.

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