University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Recognition: Coach

Coach Charlie Foster joined the Kearney State staff in 1945 as the only coach and became a legend in his nearly 40 years as a track and cross-country coach. His track teams won 22 consecutive conference championships and his cross-country teams won every conference championship after the sport was added in 1960. After he retired as men’s head coach in 1971, Foster coached women’s track and cross-country until his death in 1983. The ‘father’ of Nebraska cross-country, he featured high school girls track events in meets before the sport was approved in the state and was the first to add the triple jump to track meets. Foster was NAIA Track Coach of the Year in 1970. Kearney State named the football stadium Foster Field in his honor in 1963.