Bud Foster Signs a Five-Year Contract Extension

By Tim Thomas | Dec 22, 2014

Aug 30, 2014; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster before the game against the William & Mary Tribe at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Bud Foster is definitely one of the best defensive coordinators in college football, and he has consistently done a great job of building great defenses despite not getting top recruits.

Foster has also not been one of the higher paid defensive coordinators with Foster’s current salary around $569,000 though this year is an exception due to an $800,000 annuity due to Foster on New Year’s Day under his current contract if he is still in Blacksburg.

There have been rumors this offseason about Foster leaving Virginia Tech to take the same position at Texas A&M. However, anyone insider around the program would have told you the whole time that Foster was almost certainly not going to leave Blacksburg.

Today, news is breaking about Foster signing a new contract.

Bud Foster has signed the contract. Whit Babcock has signed the contract. It's going through VT's contract approval process. #Hokies
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) December 22, 2014

For some Hokie fans, this will be a sigh of relief while Texas A&M who did think Foster might end up in College Station will be disappointed. However, most Virginia Tech fans will be happy to hear that Foster has signed a new contract that is being reported as a five-year deal by Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times.

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"It is strictly a five-year deal. Foster previously had a rolling five-year contract that was renewable every year."

This report from Bitter also suggests that Foster will become one of the highest paid assistants in the ACC with his salary being over $750,000. This is absolutely what Foster deserves and is a great sign for the future of Virginia Tech football with Foster secured long term.

Of course, it will be interesting to see how much Foster is getting paid under this new deal compared to other top defensive coordinators. No one should expect Foster to get paid the $1.6 million a year that Will Muschamp received at Auburn but Foster may break into the 7 figure salary range.

Oct 5, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster reacts in the fourth quarter. The Hokies defeated the Tar Heels 27-17 at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

This raise for Foster will make you wonder what type of raise some other defensive coaches might receive including DB Coach Torrian Gray. Gray is probably one of the most underpaid position coaches in college football and absolutely deserves to get a raise.

Charley Wiles also did one of the best coaching jobs of his career this past season, and Wiles is also deserving of a raise. WR Coach Aaron Moorehead has done a very good job in his two seasons in Blacksburg and also seems like someone that is worthy of a pay raise.

This new Foster deal definitely is an indication that times have changed in Blacksburg and that Whit Babcock is willing to raise and spend the money that top assistants deserve. Having this type of support from the athletic director is something that coaches of every sport will be able to use on the recruiting trail.

This is very good news to see that Bud Foster is going to get the pay raise that he absolutely deserves. Now that this deal is done, it will be interesting to see which defensive assistants might be next to get a pay raise.

However, it is certain that Babcock and the Hokies are not going to mess around with making sure that Virginia Tech becomes a major athletic program, and that has to be exciting for Hokie Nation.

Next: Mook Reynolds Will Play in 2015

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