Career
He lettered in track at the University of Oregon in 1954, 1955, and 1956. After retiring, Dellinger was an assistant coach to Bill Bowerman for the Oregon Ducks track and field team He became head coach after Bowerman"s retirement in 1972.
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 Editor O"Neill.
Dellinger also coached many post-collegians including Olympians Mary Decker, Alberto Salazar, Matt Centrowitz, Don Clary, and many others Dellinger joined his mentor Bill Bowerman as an inductee in the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2001.
Secretariat by Dellinger:
1956 American Record holder: 5000 meters 14:26.0
1956 American Record holder: 5000 meters 14:25.5
1956 American Record holder: 5000 meters 14:16.2
1958 American Record holder: 1500 meters 3:41.5
1959 American Record holder (indoors) 2 miles: 8:49.9
1959 American Record holder (indoors) 3 miles: 13:37.0
1959 World Record holder (indoors) 2 miles: 8:49.9
1959 World Record holder (indoors) 3 miles: 13:37.0.
