TENNERTON, W.Va. — Free time is virtually non existent these days for Buckhannon-Upshur boys basketball coach Travis Foster.
In addition to being head coach of the Buccaneers’ varsity program, Foster has taken on a pair of new roles this season — head coach of Buckhannon’s junior varsity and freshman teams.
“I’ve had multiple phone calls from people around the state like, ‘are you crazy?’ It’s not easy, but when you get on the grind it’s the right thing to do,” Foster said.
Foster was left without much choice following the unexpected departure of two coaches in the the junior varsity and freshman programs just days before tryouts were to begin.
“A situation transpired four days before the season where we lost a couple coaches,” Foster said. “You put your head down to be there for the kids and you just have to do it. It’s difficult, but starting to see some success with the three teams makes it all worth it.”
Despite losing two straight games, the B-U varsity team has a 9-6 record. While the varsity squad is on pace for one of its better seasons in the last 10 years, the future also appears to be bright for the Buccaneers. The JV team sports a 13-1 record and the freshman squad is 4-3.
“This isn’t something I really wanted or asked for, but it was right thing to do at the time,” Foster said. “Otherwise it can interrupt what we’re looking to do and our goals as a program. If we just put anybody out there to coach that’s not fair to the kids.
“It’s not been easy at all. Most varsity coaches are preparing all day to battle teams at the varsity level and last week I coached nine games. Three teams is difficult and it can get frustrating, but it’s turned out to be a very good thing.”
For Foster, juggling his time between three teams presents unique challenges as each one needs to be coached a different way.
“It’s difficult going from a freshman group that struggles fundamentally to a JV group that’s very young, and then in varsity practice you can be upset with where you’re at and take that out on your guys,” he said. “You’re getting ready for three different levels of skillsets each day and thankfully we have a great group of kids who have bought into what we’re doing and understand my position.”
Foster, previously the Buckhannon Middle School boys coach and an assistant for West Virginia Wesleyan’s men’s program under Gary Nottingham, is in his third year guiding the B-U varsity program.
This year, more than any, Foster is optimistic about the direction the Buccaneers are heading. Yet he’s nowhere near complacent and knows plenty of work remains. His ability to help the program’s younger players develop and buy in will go a long way in determining how formidable the varsity program is over the next few seasons.
“We want to be elite, but we’re not there yet,” Foster said. “We have to keep trusting the process. This is about changing the mindset and changing the culture.
“It’s been really good for these kids to all hear one voice and one direction. Over the next 45 days and when the dust settles, we’ll get more out of it.”