ELKHART – Dean Foster, a standout as both a basketball player and coach, has passed away.

The 69-year old Foster died earlier today (April 6) after reportedly suffering a massive heart attack while working his job as a valet at South Bend International Airport.

Foster was best known for his very successful coaching stints at both Elkhart Central and Penn high schools. He coached at Central for six seasons in the 1990s, posting a 99-43 mark. Foster guided the Blue Blazers to three sectional, two regional and two Northern Indiana Conference championships and a State Finals berth in 1995. He then coached for 10 years at Penn, where he went 169-70 with five sectional, three regional and seven NIC titles. He guided the Kingsmen to a Class 4-A state runner-up finish in 2001.

Foster’s longest coaching stop among seven schools was at Bremen, where he spent 12 seasons. He coached for 37 years overall, posting a 442-375 mark.

Foster began his high school coaching career at Taft High School in Cincinnati. He also coached, after retiring from Penn, at Richmond (2008-09), Jennings County (2009-10) and Oregon-Davis (2013-14).

Foster was a standout player at Elkhart High School, where he earned team MVP honors both his junior and senior seasons (1962-63 and 1963-64). He then went on to play collegiately at the University of Cincinnati, where he was a standout point guard for the Bearcats. Foster led Cincinnati in assists all three of his seasons playing there (freshman were not allowed to play) as the Bearcats compiled a 56-24 record.

Foster is survived by his wife of 42 years Kathi, along with three children and 14 grandchildren.