RIP Bill Dellinger - Olympian. Coach. Mentor. Friend. RIP Bill Dellinger, 1934-2025

I have no words. I am forever grateful for helping shape who I am today. RIP Coach, Mentor and Friend.

correct, Cruz brought his own coach, and escaped bondage and abuse in Brazil athletics federation.

Cruz was a real 141 man.

Dellinger should be commended on being flexible in coaching.

Good move.

Our second-best Olympic 5,000 runner, tied with Fisher. Pre third. Schul first.

My thanks to almost all of the posters here, especially Ben; I found myself tearing up a couple times. And than to Bill for demonstrating how to live a life that was good for him but gave so much to many.

This is why I come here.

I'll bet you didn't know that Luis also coached Gerry Donakowski? Gerry won two National 10k Championships.

RIP Bill.

Incredible coach. RIP

Date pace, race pace.

“In ninth grade in Springfield, his running ability caught not only the coach’s eye, but that of future novelist Ken Kesey, who recalled watching him from the school bus, “running to school instead of riding, rain or shine, the very sort of nut you’d expect to win the state cross-country title” (as retold by Kenny Moore in Bowerman and the Men of Oregon).”

Ken Kesey calls you crazy. You’re nuts!

Jon has a nice article on Bill here:

The video with Pat Tyson at Bill Dellinger's home was awesome.

I loved the pictures and the descriptions.

I got to shake his hand before a race when I was out there and I am grateful but man, would I have loved to have chatted with him.

what's this utter nonsense on Dellinger and Nike contributing to the heel strike?

those shoes were garbage, and the largest step backward since man wore shoes.

heel strike?

stop it.

Walked on to UO in 95 and ran for two years under Dellinger. He told us that when he was in the Air Force and there was no track, he ran 440s by counting his strides. He knew or figured out how many strides he needed at different paces to make a quarter mile.

There was a special workout where you would see how many laps you could last running a 30 second 200 meters followed by a 40 second 200. Regardless of the benefits it was awesome because he told you how many laps different notable UO athletes had lasted in past years - (Pre had the record I think). For us slower guys it was a 30 second 200 followed by a 50 second 200.

@malmo

Specifics are all public in Ben's published book called "The Long Run"

Specifics?

He was of my father’s generation. Born three years apart. My father was an Igloi protege and successful coach before he went into business. Oddly, my father was a NCAA javelin finalist who could run as well. Never heard anything but positive about Dellinger from my father.

This view was underscored by a high school classmate (Illinois) who lives in Eugene. My classmate is a salt of the earth person with a heart of gold. A bookkeeper with a hard earned degree in accounting. She has had her ups and downs, but she is the kind of classmate you cheer for no matter what.

She wrote me a few days ago and related she helped Bill’s wife in her later years. She related the best part of the job was talking to Bill, as he treated her with dignity and respect and always engaged in caring conversation. What a nice thing to hear.