Harold E. Foster

Who was Harold E. Foster?

Harold E. "Bud" Foster, was an American basketball player and coach. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Foster prepped at Mason City, Iowa and went on to play at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1926 to 1930. While a player at Wisconsin, he was voted twice All Big Ten Conference and helped lead Wisconsin to a 43-8 three year record. He was born in Newton, Kansas.

After college, Foster played professionally with the Oshkosh All-Stars. He teamed up with fellow Big Ten star Branch McCracken to lead the All-Stars to a 30-23 victory over the Chicago Majestic and the Midwest professional championship. He went on to play with pro teams in Milwaukee and Chicago.

After his playing career, Foster was named freshman coach of basketball at Wisconsin in 1933. He succeeded Doc Meanwell as head coach a year later, and remained as head coach until 1959. His Wisconsin team won the 1941 NCAA championship.

Foster served as president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and was a member of the Basketball Rules Committee from 1957-1966.

Foster's 266 wins remained the most in Wisconsin history until Bo Ryan passed him in 2012; his 267 losses remain a school record.