Niles High School has named Jami Foster and Dave Jacobs as its new girls cross country and boys soccer coaches.

Foster has been with Niles High School since 1996 and has been the varsity track coach for the past 12 years. Foster is looking forward to taking over the cross country program.

“It will be a challenge that I embrace to get more participation in the cross country program.  I believe the coordination between track and cross country will strengthen both programs,” she said.

Foster will look to add to the Niles track program and improve on the distance events with her coordination of both programs.

The Vikings will return several girls from last year’s team and Foster will look to bring excellence to the cross country team. Jami Foster replaces Dan VandenHeede as coach of the program.

Jacobs is a 1990 Niles High School graduate. He has most recently been involved as an assistant soccer coach at Bethel College and assisting with the Junior Irish program out of South Bend.

Jacobs’s career includes playing soccer at Judson College and professionally from 1994-2000 with Pumas in Mexico City and several teams including the Indianapolis Twisters and the Arizona Thunder.

Jacobs is excited to take over the Niles program and believes with the proper training, dedication and hard work; the Vikings can return championships to the high school.

“Jerry left the program in great shape,” he said. “I am very impressed with the work ethic of our student-athletes and look to improve on our success on the field. When Niles won the district championship over St. Joe in 2006 that created great excitement in our community. We love excitement and look to create those opportunities for our community.”

Jacobs replaces Jerry Holtgren, who stepped down to become the director of Niles New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy.