BY NATHAN WARTERS

(434) 385-5540

Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster will make $800,000 in deferred compensation if he continues in his current position with the Hokies through the 2014 season.

The terms of Foster’s “continued employment agreement” were officially announced Thursday by Tech director of athletics Jim Weaver.

Foster and Virginia Tech agreed to the deferred payment back in December, when he was being courted for the defensive coordinator positions at University of Georgia and Florida State.

“If Bud Foster is going to continue to be a defensive coordinator, we want him to do so at Virginia Tech rather than relocating,” Weaver said on Dec. 14.

The payment is an annuity that Foster will not collect unless he fulfills the terms of his contract over the next five seasons.

If he leaves for any job prior to the end of the 2014 season, he would not receive any part of this deferred package.

According to a written release, the only other qualification to the 2014 date is if Frank Beamer resigns or does not continue in his position as the Hokies head coach, Foster will receive the deferred compensation with the effective date of Beamer’s departure.

Foster just completed his 23rd season on Tech’s staff and his 15th season as the team’s defensive coordinator.

He has been with Beamer for most of his playing and coaching career. He was a strong safety and defensive end at Murray State when Beamer was the team’s defensive coordinator from 1979-80, and he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Murray State in 1981, Beamer’s first year as a head coach.

Foster has been a member of Beamer’s coaching staffs every year since.

Foster has been linked to many head coaching openings, and was most recently rumored to be on the short list of candidates for the vacant spot at East Carolina.

But in a letter recently posted on the Pirates’ athletics Web site, ECU athletics director Terry Holland wrote, “My instincts tell me we need to do all in our power to hire someone who has successful head coaching experience, and therefore, someone who has hired and managed a staff while managing the other duties required of today’s head coaches.”

Barring more coaching upheaval this offseason, it appears Foster will return to Tech for a 24th season, and he’ll be paid handsomely if he sticks around through 2014.