Dakota Foster joined Temple University in July 2025 as Director of Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs. In this role, Foster serves as a contact for all varsity sports for financial aid and recruiting, and monitors Name, Image, and Likeness activity and education. In addition, Foster educates coaches, administrators and student-athletes on new conference and NCAA rules and regulations. Prior to Temple, Foster served as the Compliance Coordinator at Jackson State University, where he supported compliance efforts for various Tigers sports programs including eligibility certification, inputting NCAA transfer portal information, and leading monthly compliance rules education sessions with coaches and administrators. Foster also served as a compliance liaison to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Student-Athlete Development Committee to assist with professional development initiatives and the implementation of compliance policies and procedures.
As the Landmark Conference Intern, he oversaw the conference’s SAAC representatives and assisting in conference communication, social media, website management, championship oversight, and general administration for the Division III athletic conference.
A native of Landover, Maryland, Foster graduated from Trinity College (Conn.) in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy & Law. He was a four-year starter on the football team that won two New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championships in 2017 and 2018.
He received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law with certificates in Business Law and Dispute Resolution in 2024.
Internship Reflection
"My tenure as a Conference Intern for the Landmark Conference — now honored as the Mary Beth Spirk Internship — was a defining chapter in my professional development. I gained valuable experience working in college athletics on the Division III level, where my interest in athletics compliance oversight began. I built foundational knowledge in athletic administration by working alongside the conference’s athletic directors and their staffs and learn the importance of institutional collaboration to support student-athletes on and off the playing field. These skills have allowed me to elevate my knowledge of athletics compliance on the Division I level, where I serve as a contact for all varsity sports for financial aid and recruiting for student-athletes at Temple University. I encourage young professionals aspiring to work in athletic administration to apply for the Mary Beth Spirk Internship. It is a great opportunity to learn how to collaborate effectively with student-athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators, and gain a broad perspective on conference and NCAA rules and regulations. Simply put, the experience does not introduce to the field of intercollegiate athletics — it prepares you to lead within it."