David Foust Is Focused On Building Community For Maryland Student-Athletes

David Foust knows what it takes to be a leader. 

While balancing Big Ten football demands and eighteen credits, this Edgewater, Maryland, native remains committed to representing all UMD student-athletes. 

Foust, a third-year reserve quarterback on the Terps Varsity football team, is the Director of Student Engagement within the university’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). Yet it took some time for this student-leader to find his niche, especially coming out of a busy high school experience.

“I went to South River High School, a public school in Edgewater,” said Foust. “I took it upon myself to be as involved as I could during my time there: and I loved it.” 

Foust started at Maryland during the fall of 2020, amidst strict Covid precautions and virtual classes. As a result, finding activities outside of school and football only complicated his early-college reality. “I really found it difficult to try and get involved in much, on top of 24/7 football,” said Foust.

David Foust is a Marketing and Supply Chain Management double-major, so he initially sought out academic-related activities. “I tried to join an accounting club, a supply chain club, and marketing associations,” said Foust. “They were good, but that just wasn’t the best fit for me. It was stressing me out even trying to make the meetings.”

During the summer before his sophomore year, Foust participated in Maryland’s InTERPship program, which prepares student-athletes for life after competition. “Through the InTERPship program, the athletics department would keep me updated on any opportunities,” said Foust. “That’s when they brought up being a representative for SAAC.” 

In addition to his membership on the SAAC Executive Board, Foust is a part of Gossett Fellows and has been a part of the MDMade Leadership Academy. He’s also one of the student-athlete representatives on the Athletics Council. “Overtime, I’ve found my community. Where I fit in best is the extra-curriculars within athletics.”

Foust must balance an undergraduate education and full-time Big Ten athletics commitment as a student-athlete. “I would definitely be lying if I said it was easy. Especially this semester, I’m actually taking on eighteen credits,” noted Foust. “The meetings and extra meetings and extra film time, looking to balance that with four classes on Tuesday and Thursday alone.” 

“At the end of the day it’s definitely worth it. Every student-athlete here is going through balancing an academic schedule with their sport. It’s definitely not unique to my position.” 

This empathy towards student-athletes in similar positions is what inspires Foust’s role in SAAC. “It’s definitely an honor to be a voice for these athletes and someone that people look to if they have a problem.” 

“More than anything, we want to build that sense of community for all athletes. We’ve organized game nights, Super Bowl parties, gift wrapping parties, food drives. We want these events to be fun and enriching, something these kids really look forward to,” said Foust. “We’re also trying to encourage student-athletes to interact with all sports in order to meet other people that are going through the same thing.”

Foust described his position as a reserve quarterback on the Terps football team as particularly exciting, educational, and fun. “Without football, I definitely would not have met most of my friends right now. We’re a very close group, especially the quarterback room,” said Foust. “The bowl game last year was fun. Beating Penn State my freshman year was awesome. These are relationships and memories that I’m going to carry with me, even after football’s over.” 

Foust’s roles on and off the field have also greatly informed his views on leadership. He admits that he’s had to embrace yielding some control in favor of being a great team player at Maryland. 

“I feel like the team’s I’ve been a part of here, even in small projects in school, being able to take a step back if somebody else wants to take on that leadership role,” said Foust. “Honestly in my role with football, that’s been a huge story during my time here.” 

“I’ve definitely evolved. I’ve learned how to identify what I am, what those around me are, and how we can work best to accomplish a shared goal.” 

Foust is proud of the work he’s done at Maryland in all his academic, athletic, and professional pursuits. “It’s not something that I take for granted,” said Foust. 

“I remember committing to Maryland, that day, hearing from all those around me, throwing around the phrase, ‘hometown hero.’ I don’t like that getting to my head, but it’s really an unmatched feeling.”