Virginia Tech's Bud Foster told Norm Wood of the Newport News Daily Press he would listen if East Carolina came calling about its vacant head coaching job. However, Foster said ECU AD Terry Holland would have to come up with a lucrative offer to lure him from Blacksburg:
"Well, No. 1, they have not contacted me about that job," said Foster, who also coaches Virginia Tech's inside linebackers.
"No. 2, they'd really have to come up with something big with this annuity deal now (in place at Tech) to offset that, without a doubt. That's really all I can say about it.
"There's really nothing that has been done to make me feel like I'm a candidate for the job yet."
It's unlikely that ECU will come after Foster anytime soon. Holland said Friday his preference was to get someone with head coaching experience to replace Skip Holtz, who has been hired as South Florida's head coach.
"Our preference, just like always, will be to find a head coach with experience," said Holland, who speculated there were about five unnamed coaches in consideration as of Friday. "We'll be looking hard at head coaches at the (Bowl Subdivision) level first, then head coaches at the (Championship Subdivision) level and then, of course, coordinators."
I seriously doubt Foster will be in Greenville next year. First, ECU would have to be spurned by several other candidates and Holtz has turned ECU into a desirable job. Second, Foster wouldn't come cheap for ECU. He's scheduled to receive an annuity of "nearly $1 million" if he stays at Tech the next five years. Holtz's most recent contract guaranteed him $4.07 million over six years. My guess is ECU could get someone with head coaching experience cheaper than it could Foster.
While I think Foster would be a great fit for the ECU program, the two sides aren't looking for the same things at this time. Things could change if other coaches start turning down Holland.