The Ohio State women’s basketball team hopes to come out strong this season with new leadership as Jim Foster takes over to coach the Buckeyes to victory.

Foster came to OSU from Vanderbilt University, where he headed up the coaching staff for the past 11 years. Foster boasts a 256-99 record at Vanderbilt and earned his 500th career victory last season. His team made two NCAA Elite Eight appearances, three Sweet Sixteen trips and won three post-season SEC tournament crowns

Prior to Vanderbilt, Foster coached women’s basketball for 13 years at St. Joseph’s University, where he posted a 248-126 record. His team made seven post-season appearances in the NCAA and one in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. In 1985, Foster was awarded NCAA Coach of the Year honors.

Foster, a native of Abington, Pa., marks the seventh women’s basketball success both on and off the court. In addition to boasting a perfect graduation record for all student athletes, every player recruited by Foster at both universities has earned a degree.

“Coach Foster gets after it,” said sophomore guard Caity Matter. “He knows what he’s talking about and we respect that. He expects us to work hard and we expect the same so we’re on the right track.”

The first Buckeye women’s basketball class recruited by Foster was announced last week. Players Jessica Davenport, a center from Columbus, Stephanie Blanton, a guard from Lancaster, and Brandie Hoskins, a guard from Dayton, will join the Buckeyes for the 2003-04 season.

“There is a great coach-athlete relationship this year,” said senior forward Courtney Coleman. “Foster tells you what he thinks and he expects the same from the players.”

With his long-standing relationship with USA Basketball and head coaching role in the 1997 World University Games at Marsala in Sicily, Italy, Foster has international involvement. He also served as head coach for both the 1993 USA Junior World Championship squad and the 1991 Junior National team.

As assistant coach, Foster coached gold-medal winning teams at the World Championship Games in 1990 and U.S. Olympic Festival in 1987. He also helped his squad capture the bronze medal in 1992, acting as an assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic Team.

Taking Ohio State to an international level, Foster traveled this summer with the OSU women’s basketball team as it competed in a 12-day European tour. The Buckeyes played five games and went 5-0 against the French and Swiss teams.

OSU will take on Duquesne at 7 p.m. tonight and return home to play Wayne State Nov. 26 at 7 p.m.

“We didn’t come here not to win,” Foster said. “That’s our mentality as a staff and hopefully the players are picking up on that.”