NORTHFIELD, Minn. – After eight seasons leading the St. Olaf College volleyball program, Emily Foster has stepped down to accept the head coaching position at Occidental College, as announced on Tuesday.

After coming to St. Olaf prior to the 2016 season, Foster led the Oles to an overall record of 136-77 (.638) over her eight seasons, with the 136 victories ranking second in program history. Foster's teams qualified for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs in each of her final six seasons (no playoffs in 2020-21) and made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2019 and 2023.

"I want to thank Emily for the outstanding job she did during her time here on the Hill," said St. Olaf Athletic Director Ryan Bowles. "Her positive impact on our volleyball program, as well as our entire athletic department, has left a lasting mark and positioned us well for a strong future."

After inheriting a team that went was 9-19 overall and 1-10 in MIAC play, Foster quickly built St. Olaf into one of the top programs in the MIAC and the region. The Oles won at least 20 matches in four of her seven full seasons, doing so in three consecutive seasons from 2017-19 and again in 2023. Under Foster's leadership, St. Olaf finished as the runner-up in the MIAC Playoffs three times (2019, 2022, 2023) and made it to the semifinals five times (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023). In 2019, the Oles broke back into the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 for the first time since 2011.

During Foster's time on the Hill, she coached 19 All-MIAC honorees, 10 AVCA All-Region selections, and five AVCA All-Americans. Her teams also excelled academically, producing 59 Academic All-MIAC honorees, 10 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honorees, and the program's second-ever CSC Academic All-American.

In addition to her volleyball responsibilities, Foster served as St. Olaf's senior women administrator (SWA) for four years (2019-23) and held several administrative responsibilities as an assistant athletic director in 2023-24. She also led the Ole Leadership Academy, a cohort of sophomore student-athletes who engage in educational sessions throughout the year in a partnership with the Piper Center, for four years.

Foster came to St. Olaf after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Northern State University, where she handled the defense and was the program's recruiting coordinator. She also spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Minnesota State University, Mankato, in addition to extensive experience at the club level. During her playing career, Foster was a four-time All-MIAC selection, a three-time AVCA All-American, and a two-time MIAC MVP as a setter at the University of St. Thomas from 2007-10, helping the Tommies to three NCAA appearances.

A national search for St. Olaf's next head volleyball coach will begin in the near future. Click here to view the job posting.