Bill Dellinger, who ran the 5,000 meters for the United States in three Olympics and then became a successful longtime coach at the University of Oregon, his alma mater, nurturing the careers of such standout runners as the Olympians Steve Prefontaine and Joaquim Cruz and the marathon runner Alberto Salazar, died on June 27 in Eugene, Ore. He was 91.
His death, in a care facility, was from cancer, his son Joe said on Friday.
At Oregon, Dellinger coached the track teams for 26 years (1973-98) and the cross- country teams for 30 (1969-98). During that span, Oregon won three N.