Hall of Fame Golf Coach Ben Foster has been a fixture at Point Loma Nazarene University as a player, coach and professor for 44 years. In 1974 he took over the reins of the university's golf program. During his 38 years as coach, Foster has guided the team to 21 NAIA National Championship appearances where they have finished in the Top-10 on 10 different occasions. He has also mentored 24 All-Americans and four national champions: Sam Cyr (2008 & 2009), Joe Prince (2006) and Greg Brown (1978).
Foster's Sea Lions won just one tournament in 2011, but it was a big one: the GSAC/Cascade/Cal Pac NAIA Qualifier. That triumph propelled the squad to its 21st national tournament appearance. Ninth-ranked PLNU placed 15th out of 29 teams there, and boasted a pair of All-Americans: Ryan Ellerbrock and Oscar Casillas.
In total, Foster’s golf teams have won 13 conference, regional or district titles. He has also served as President of the NAIA Golf Coaches Association, rater of the NAIA Region II and NAIA Region II Golf Sports Chairman and Sports Chairman since becoming PLNU's Coach. He is currently a member of the GCAA/NAIA Ping All-American committee and a former member of the GCAA International Selection committee.
Along with guiding one of the most successful golf programs in the nation, Foster was the head men’s basketball coach at PLNU for 17 years where he compiled a school best 310-232 record. He also had a distinguished playing career for the basketball team at Pasadena College.
Skilled on both sides of the ball, Foster is still the fifth all-time leading scorer and second all-time leading rebounder ever to suit up for the school. During his playing career, Foster earned three All-District and two Honorable Mention All-American selections and was tabbed as an All-West Coast pick. After college, he was drafted by teams in the NBA and ABA basketball leagues.
Foster is a member of two Hall of Fames in three categories. In 1995, he was rewarded for his many accomplishments as an athlete and coach with induction into the PLNU Hall of Fame. Seven years later he received the same honor as a part of the 1967-68 basketball team. At the 2009 NAIA National Golf Championships, Foster was enshrined into the NAIA Hall of Fame as a golf coach.
Foster graduated from Pasadena College in 1968, and later earned a master’s degree from San Diego State University in physical education. His wife, Sandy, was a long-time professor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department at PLNU with a special emphasis in Child Development.
Ben and Sandy Foster are the proud parents of Jason and Bradley (B.J.), both who are graduates of PLNU and both are current NAIA basketball coaches. The Foster's daughter-in-laws, Bonnie and Dawn, are also PLNU graduates. Ben and Sandy have three grandsons: Brodie James, Chase Matthew and Seth Andrew.
