RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Monday that head women's soccer coach Mark Foster is taking a medical leave of absence for the remainder of the season to seek treatment for Myelofibrosis.
 
Foster will undergo three weeks of chemotherapy treatment before undergoing a bone marrow transplant. Foster is expected to make a full recovery. 
 
Associate head coach Audra Larson will serve as acting head coach until Foster's return. 
 
"The UTRGV family fully supports Mark, Jessie and the kids as they embark on this challenging journey," senior vice president and director of athletics Chasse Conque said. "We will undoubtably miss Coach Foster over the next few months, but the program is in good hands as he focuses on his recovery. We are appreciative of Coach Foster's dedication and love for UTRGV and look forward to welcoming him back when he is able to return. Our coaches and staff will provide great support to our young ladies in his absence. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with coach and his family."
 
Foster and Larson have been side-by-side since 2018, which was their first of four seasons at Little Rock. They are now in their fourth season together at UTRGV. 
 
"I have been sick for a while now and I have been trying to manage it as best as possible," Foster said. "Unfortunately, I am not well, and the time has come where I need to step away for a few months and take care of my health. That will allow me to come back in a few months healthier, a better version of myself, and be the coach that the program deserves. I know it's not a good time to be leaving, when we just started the season, but what I have seen in the preseason leaves me excited for the season ahead for the ladies."
 
The Vaqueros will have plenty of leadership and guidance alongside Larson in Foster's absence with assistant coach Melanie Chandler, who has previous head coaching experience at Schreiner and is now in her third season at UTRGV, and assistant coach Lana Spitler, who joined the staff this season. 
 
Last season, Foster, Larson, and Chandler guided the Vaqueros to their most wins since the 2020-21 season and to a Southland Conference Tournament appearance.
 
"Coach Audra [Larson], Coach Mel [Chandler], and Coach Lana [Spitler] are going to do a great job," Foster said. "I have full confidence in them. I am going to be supporting them from a distance, watching a lot of ESPN+ and I will be their biggest supporter. Overall, I think the program is in a good place. The ladies are going to do great while I am away. Our administration has been amazingly supportive of me, the ladies, and my family. I want to thank Chasse Conque, James Martinez, and Molly Castner for how they have supported me through this difficult time. I am going to go get healthy, the ladies are going to have fun without me, and hopefully I will be back on the field with them in a few months."

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