Bill Foster, shown coaching Virginia Tech in 1993, had a successful career at several schools.
Bill Foster, shown coaching Virginia Tech in 1993, succeeded at several schools. (Getty Images)

The man who brought Clemson men's hoops its only Elite Eight showing has died.

Bill C. Foster passed away on Wednesday, Clemson announced. He was 79 and dealt with Parkinson's disease for many years. Foster spent his career with five schools, coaching 21 seasons above .500 with Clemson, Charlotte, the Citadel, Miami and Virginia Tech.

The Elite Eight trip came in 1980, when Clemson topped top-ranked Duke earlier in the season before beating, as a No. 6 seed, Utah State, BYU and Lamar in the NCAA Tournament.

Foster had a career record of 532-325. His final season on the bench came in 1996-97 with Va. Tech. He is among a handful of coaches to win 20 or more games in a season with four programs, and is the only man to ever coach three programs that currently help comprise the ACC.