Foster's out at Wheaton North's head coach

Wheaton North's football team will be loaded with familiar faces in 2008.

One of the most familiar, however, won't be on the sideline.

Matt Foster resigned as varsity head coach on Monday during an after-school meeting with Falcons athletic director Matt Fisher.

"I'm just moving on and I want what's best for the program," Foster said Monday night. "I just thought it'd be best for me and the program to go in a different direction."

Foster, a veteran college coach, came to Wheaton North in 1998. He coached the Falcons to four postseason appearances in 10 seasons including consecutive Class 8A state semifinal appearances in 2001 and 2002.

With a junior-laden team this season, Wheaton North earned its first playoff berth since 2003 and lost to Morgan Park in the first round of the Class 7A tournament.

After the meeting between Foster and Fisher, they gathered the players to announce the coaching change.

"It's a difficult day," Fisher said. "He's been a true professional in everything he's done. Truly, he's been a great role model for the kids."

The Falcons, who finished 5-5 this season, will return 15 starters in 2008 including all-area running back Mike Trumpy and sophomore quarterback Taylor Graham.

Fisher said the process of selecting Foster's successor would begin in the near future, but only after he met with the current staff and players to make sure the present needs are met.

Fisher said he'd also meet with Wheaton North administrators to plot a path for hiring the new coach.

"I'm really not sure what direction we want to go right now," Fisher said. "The first thing we need to do is talk to the staff and get to the players and make sure they're taken care of."

As a defensive coordinator at Division III Salisbury State University, Foster helped coach that program to a national runner-up finish in 1986. He was also defensive coordinator at College of DuPage when the Chaparrals placed second in the nation in 1993 and 1995.

Foster, who ends his tenure at Wheaton North with a 53-47 overall record, said he didn't know what his future plans might entail. Right now, his main goal is to make sure he leaves the program on a positive note.

"I want to do what's best for Wheaton North, for me and for my family," he said. "It's time to head in another direction."