Bud Foster
(1906-1996)
Hall of Fame Induction: 1964
Card Shown:
2009-10 Panini
Hall of Fame
Position: C
Height: 6’3″
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Harold “Bud” Foster was known as “Mr. Wisconsin” for his nearly five decades of service at the University of Wisconsin as a player, coach, and administrator. Bud led his Wisconsin teams to an overall record of 43-8 during his three seasons as a player. He went on to brief professional basketball career in the early 1930s and then returned to Wisconsin to coach the Badgers for a quarter of a century. Foster coached Wisconsin to their first NCAA basketball championship in 1941.
Awards and Honors
- In 1924, as a senior at Mason City High School in Iowa, Bud led his team to the state tournament.
- Foster starred at the University of Wisconsin, under Hall of Fame coach Walter “Doc” Meanwell, for three seasons. He led the Badgers to records of 13-4 in 1928, 15-2 in 1929, and 15-2 in 1930. He was the captain of the team in 1930.
- In 1929 and 1930, Bud was selected for several All-Big Ten Conference teams and All-Western teams.
- Foster was honored as an All-America selection in 1930.
- Bud’s short professional basketball career spanned the years from 1930-1934. During that time he played for the Oshkosh (Wisconsin) All-Stars, the Duffy Florals (Chicago), and Milwaukee.
Points of Interest
- In 1935, Foster became the head basketball coach at his alma mater, Wisconsin. He coached there for 25 years, from 1935-1959, finishing with a record of 265-267.
- As a coach, Bud won three Big Ten Conference titles in 1935, 1941, and 1947.
- In 1941, Foster coached Wisconsin to the NCAA championship. Along the way, the Badgers defeated Dartmouth College 51-50, University of Pittsburgh 36-30, and and Washington State University 39-34 in the title game.
- After his coaching career ended, Bud continued working at Wisconsin as a professor of athletics and director of grants-in-aid for 17 years.
- Foster was also inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1970 and the inaugural class of the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.
Bud Foster Cut Signature Card
Bud Foster Signed Hall of Fame Bookmark
Bud Foster Videos
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