Bill Dellinger

Bill Dellinger
Dellinger at the 1964 Olympics
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Solon Dellinger
Born(1934-03-23)March 23, 1934
Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S.
DiedJune 27, 2025(2025-06-27) (aged 91)
Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
Sport
SportTrack and Field
Event(s)1500 m, 5000 m
ClubOregon Track Club
TeamUniversity of Oregon
Coached byBill Bowerman
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)1500 m – 3:41.5 (1958)
1 mile – 4:02.7 (1961)
2 miles – 8:43.8 (1961)
5000 m – 13:49.8 (1964)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1964 Tokyo 5000 m
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1959 Chicago 5000 m

William Solon Dellinger (March 23, 1934 – June 27, 2025) was an American middle-distance runner and coach. He competed in the 5,000 m at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics and won a bronze medal in 1964, setting his personal record.[1][2] He lettered in track at the University of Oregon in 1954, 1955, and 1956.

Coaching career

Upon retirement from competition, Dellinger took a position as the assistant coach to Bill Bowerman for the Oregon Ducks track and field team. After Bowerman's retirement in 1972,[2] Dellinger succeeded him as head coach. In his 25 years of coaching, Dellinger's men won five NCAA titles, achieved 108 All American honors, and had a 134–29 meet record. He was the Pac-10 coach of the year multiple times.[3]

Dellinger was instrumental in the development and coaching of Oregon and American great distance star Steve Prefontaine in conjunction with Bowerman, and their experience was made into a 1997 film Prefontaine, in which Bill Dellinger was played by Ed O'Neill.

In Co-Operation with Adidas, Dellinger developed the so-called "Dellinger Web", a Cushioning Technology used on various Shoes throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

Dellinger also coached many post-collegians including Olympians Mary Decker, Bill McChesney, Alberto Salazar, Matt Centrowitz, Don Clary, and many others.[1]

After retiring from coaching

Dellinger retired from the University of Oregon in 1998 [4] and would later join his mentor, Bill Bowerman, as an inductee in the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2001. He retired after he had a stroke in 2000.

From his retirement on, he stayed out of the track and field world except for a few appearances at meets named in his honor.

In 2021, USA Track and Field awarded Dellinger their Legend Coach Award.[5]

Dellinger was inducted into the USTFCCCA Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame in 2024.[6]

Death

Dellinger died on June 27, 2025 at a care facility in Eugene, Oregon from cancer at the age of 91.[7][8]

Records

Records set by Dellinger:[9]

  • 1956 American Record holder: 5000 meters 14:16.2
  • 1958 American Record holder: 1500 meters 3:41.5
  • 1959 World Record holder (indoors): 2 miles 8:49.9
  • 1959 World Record holder (indoors): 3 miles 13:37.0
  • 1960 American record holder: 2 miles 8:43.8

See also

  • Prefontaine
  • Inspirational/motivational instructors/mentors portrayed in films

References

  1. ^ a b Bill Dellinger Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  2. ^ a b Binder, Doug (August 20, 2008). "Bill Dellinger surged to '64 Olympic bronze and helped put Oregon on track map". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 20, 2008.
  3. ^ "Dellinger voted Pac-10's award as coach of year". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. June 20, 1986. p. 3C.
  4. ^ "Bill Dellinger's Retirement from the University of Oregon".
  5. ^ "LONGTIME UNIVERSITY OF OREGON COACH BILL DELLINGER TO RECEIVE 2021 USATF LEGEND COACH AWARD". United States Track and Field. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  6. ^ "Introducing the Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame Class of 2024". March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "DyeStat.com - News - Oregon Hall of Fame Coach And Three-Time Olympian Bill Dellinger Dies". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  8. ^ "Bill Dellinger, Runner and Track Coach Who Mentored Stars, Dies at 91". The New York Times. July 18, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  9. ^ Duck Record Holders Archived 2011-07-09 at the Wayback Machine. goducks.com

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