Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute
The Jefferson ISD Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of head baseball coach Tyler Foster in a special meeting held on Tuesday, April 20.
Foster shared the news with his team after their 7-5 season finale win over Waskom Tuesday night.
Foster is a Jefferson native who inherited a winless team that had their season cut short in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
His Bulldogs finished the 2021 campaign with a 6-17-1 record.
Foster cited personal reasons for his resignation.
“I am engaged to a girl from Sulphur Springs,” Foster said. “She is a nurse their and we’ve opted to buy a house there… the commute would not be sustainable. I’ve been doing it for over a month now and it is taxing.”
The board acknowledged his previously submitted resignation after a 27 minute executive session.
“I will be forever grateful to Jefferson ISD,” Foster said. “To be able to come back to your hometown, fresh out of college, and be the head coach of a 3A Texas high school baseball team— that just doesn’t happen— not when you are are 23 and 24 years old. I was blessed by this opportunity.”
While Foster his currently interviewing for jobs in the Sulphur Springs area, he says it is his Jefferson players he’ll miss the most.
“These kids have been amazing,” Foster said. “Baseball is important, but developing responsible young men is out top priority. I feel like we’ve done that here.”
In addition to speaking with the Jimplecute, Coach Foster issued the following statement Wednesday on social media:
“What an honor it has been the past two season to be able coach at my Alma mater. I am extremely grateful to Jefferson ISD for giving me a chance to be your head baseball coach and football coach.
Being able to come back home and rep the maroon and white for any length of time is special!
The relationships I have built over my time here can not be undone! I have learned a great deal over my time that I believe has shaped me into a better coach.
For the players that I have coached, thank you so much.
You guys have touched my life in ways you won’t even know. Your love for the game and for your teammates have grown over the season.
You guys have worked hard everyday and I can not thank you enough. I am extremely honored to have been your coach.
Like I said earlier, just because I’m not there does not mean I stop being your coach. I am always available for you guys.
Continue every day to #putitinthepail!
Thank you Jefferson for everything these past two years! I am very very excited for the next journey to start soon!! “