Bill Dellinger Passes Away at the Age of 91
06/27/25 | Track and Field
Bill Dellinger, one of the most accomplished figures in the history of American distance running and an architect of Oregon's storied track and field legacy, passed away this week at the age of 91.
Born March 23, 1934, in Grants Pass, Oregon, and raised in Springfield, Dellinger's deep Oregon roots would blossom into a five-decade-long impact on the sport — first as one of the University of Oregon's greatest distance runners and later, as the Ducks' head track and field coach who impacted the sport on a local, national and global level.
A two-time NCAA champion (mile in 1954 and the 5,000 meters in 1956, the latter of which he broke the record in three times in 1956), three-time all-American, and three-time conference champion from 1953-1956, Dellinger competed at Oregon for legendary coach Bill Bowerman. His post-collegiate career included six American records, two world indoor records (2 miles and 3 miles), and three appearances at the Olympic Games (1956, 1960, and 1964), culminating in a bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
"Coach Bill Dellinger was one of the greatest coaches ever," said Rudy Chapa, a six-time All-American at Oregon and a member of the Ducks' 1977 national champion cross country team. "However, for those of us lucky enough to have been coached by him, what we treasured most was the genuine friendship he gave us long after our running days were over. He gave us so much more than guidance on the track; he gave us his heart. Bill was deeply loved, and he will be profoundly missed by his athletes, the Eugene-Springfield community, and the entire world of track and field."
After serving in the U.S. Air Force and beginning his teaching and coaching career at Springfield's Thurston High School, Dellinger joined the Oregon coaching staff in 1968 and succeeded Bowerman as head coach in 1973. During the next three decades, he helped elevate the program to unprecedented heights as his athletes broke 18 American records, won 12 individual NCAA titles and made 17 Olympic appearances.
Under Dellinger's guidance over 29 years as the cross country head coach and 25 years as the head track and field coach, Oregon captured four NCAA cross country team titles and added five runner-up finishes. His 1984 track and field outdoor squad delivered a 113-point championship performance at Hayward Field, a total that represents the highest total ever recorded at an NCAA meet to this day. During his tenure, 23 runners earned 41 cross country all-America honors, while 58 track and field athletes earned the same accolades 105 times.
For all his accomplishments as an athlete and a coach, Dellinger is enshrined in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, UO Athletics Hall of Fame, Track and Field Hall of Fame for Coaching, Distance Running Hall of Fame, Drake Relays Hall of Fame and Grants Pass Hall of Fame.
