Bill Dellinger, Olympic bronze medalist in the 5,000 meters, mentor to the legendary Steve Prefontaine, and for more than 30 years a winning University of Oregon coach, died on June 27 at age 91 ...

Thirty-five years later, Mark Few could probably recite a few-dozen transformative moments that helped shape and guide the Gonzaga coach through a Hall of Fame-caliber career.

The story is retold that Mr. Smith got desperate enough that he traveled to Las Vegas on a whim and supposedly cleared about $27,000 playing blackjack.