WS Chronicle

This fall, Carolina Christian College (CCC) will have its inaugural season in girls basketball.  Leading the charge for the Lady Centurions will be Jamie Foster, a Winston-Salem native.

Foster, a graduate of North Forsyth high school, left West Ridge Academy in Kernersville to take the head coaching position at CCC.  He will also be the head coach of the boys’ junior varsity team as well.

“I just got a call from the athletic director and he asked me if I would be interested, so I just thought I would take advantage of the opportunity,” said Foster on his new position.  “It’s great because the job is here in Winston-Salem, and I am a Winston guy, so it just fit.”

Foster says he was intrigued about the job because he always had a dream of coaching on the collegiate level.  Foster has coached on the high school, AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), and post-graduate levels as well.

Coaching women is nothing new for Foster.  He is a former girls coach for the Carver Yellowjackets basketball team.  He says he enjoys the difference in coaching women versus men.

“To me, girls listen more than the boys do, to be honest,” he said.  “Most of all, I think girls try to absorb more than boys because they are not as athletic as guys. I enjoy seeing the girls translate what I say in the huddle on the floor.”

As a first-year program, Foster says this will be a building process.  He feels confident he will bring in the right pieces to bring the program along sooner than later.

“I think within the next three years, I can really have this program where I want it,” he said.  “I think this year we can get some girls in there and compete.”

Foster says he is looking for players with a “decent IQ about the game of basketball and can play the game.” 

Foster knows he is behind the eight ball when it comes to recruiting because he has such a late start.  He was just offered the job less than two weeks ago.  Foster says he wants to hit the ground running and has already begun recruiting talent.

The growing pains normally associated with a first-year program are to be expected, said Foster.  He is mainly looking for continual growth from his players throughout the season rather than counting wins and losses.

“I just want them to go out there and compete because I know we aren’t going to win every game,” he said about his expectations.  “I want to be at least a .500 ball club and I think it will be a successful season.”

As a means to reach out to possible recruits, Foster has made numerous phone calls to coaches around the county and is planning an open gym for players to showcase their talent.