William "Bill" Solon Dellinger (born March 23, 1934) is a retired American middle-distance runner. 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.
. sports-reference.com 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,
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 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
Adidas AG (; stylized as adidas since 1949) is a German multinational corporation, founded and headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing and accessories. It is the largest sportswear manufactur ...
, Dellinger developed the so called "Dellinger Web", a Cushioning Technology used on various Shoes throughout the 80s and early 90s.
Dellinger also coached many post-collegians including Olympians
Mary Decker
Mary Teresa Slaney (formerly Tabb, née Decker, born August 4, 1958) is a retired American middle-distance runner. During her career, she won gold medals in the 1500 meters and 3000 meters at the 1983 World Championships, and was the world re ...
,
Bill McChesney (athlete)
Bill McChesney, Jr. (January 8, 1959 - October 29, 1992) was an American long-distance runner from Eugene, Oregon. As of 2020, he is Oregon's record holder in the 5,000 meters.
Running career
He graduated from South Eugene High School and earne ...
,
Alberto Salazar,
Matt Centrowitz
Matthew Centrowitz (born January 28, 1955) is a two-time Olympic distance runner, a four-time United States champion, a collegiate All-American, a nationally renowned high school athlete, and a collegiate cross country and track coach.
Life an ...
,
Don Clary
Donald Gene Clary Jr. (born July 29, 1957) is an American former long-distance runner who competed mainly in 5000 meters and cross country running. He represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics and competed three times at the IAA ...
, and many others.
[
]
After retiring from coaching
Dellinger retired from the University of Oregon in 1998 and would later join his mentor, Bill Bowerman, as an inductee in the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2001. Also after he retierd he had a stroke.
Since retirement, he has 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.
Records
Records set by Dellinger:Duck Record Holders
. goducks.com
*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
External links
*
1934 births
Living people
American male middle-distance runners
Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field
Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Athletes (track and field) at the 1959 Pan American Games
Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Athletes (track and field) at the 1964 Summer Olympics
Oregon Ducks men's track and field athletes
Oregon Ducks track and field coaches
American track and field coaches
Sportspeople from Grants Pass, Oregon
Medalists at the 1964 Summer Olympics
Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States
Track and field athletes from Oregon
Pan American Games medalists in athletics (track and field)
Medalists at the 1959 Pan American Games
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