Bill Foster, Former Clemson Basketball Coach, Dies at 79

Former college basketball coach Bill Foster, who won an NIT championship at Virginia Tech and led Clemson to its first NCAA tournament appearance, died Wednesday. He was 79.

Clemson athletics confirmed his death after a battle with Parkinson's disease. The release notes he achieved the rare feat of posting multiple 20-win seasons at four different schools before retiring following the 1996-97 season.

Foster compiled a career record of 532-325, including a 394-274 mark at the Division I level.

After starting at the high school ranks in South Carolina, he began his college coaching career with Shorter, an NAIA program, in 1962. He proceeded to prove himself as a terrific developer of programs at UNC Charlotte, Clemson, Miami and Virginia Tech.

Scott Keepfer of the Greenville News passed along comments from Bobby Conrad, a former Tigers guard, about playing under Foster:

"

He was bigger than basketball. You could be a Division I ACC player under him, and still have a life outside of basketball, and a lot of us really appreciated that. ... He was all about teaching life lessons and was very much excited about seeing his players succeed in life. Coach Foster was a very influential, very impactful person in the lives of all of his players.

"

Foster's NIT championship with Virginia Tech came at the end of the 1994-95 season. The Hokies edged Marquette for the postseason title, finishing the season 25-10.

The Clemson release points out he continued to receive honors after stepping away from the game. The accolades included an induction into the Shorter and Clemson Halls of Fame. He was also given the Bobby Roberts Award from the Augusta Sports Council for his impact on basketball.