Local SportsWednesday, November 4
Saginaw coaching legend Bill DeLong has died at 80
The Saginaw Today team
If you've watched girls basketball around here, you know the name. Bill DeLong, a well-known Saginaw area coach, died Saturday at age 80. mlive reports he died after a battle with cancer.
DeLong became a teacher at Carrollton, where he coached the girls' basketball team to state titles in 1981 and 1982.
DeLong's teams won four state titles across 38 years
- 1981DeLong's Carrollton girls' basketball team wins a state title.
- 1982Carrollton wins another girls' basketball state title under DeLong.
- 2018Saginaw Heritage, with DeLong assisting, wins a Class-A state title.
- 2019Saginaw Heritage wins a second straight Class-A state title.
Sources: WJRT ABC12, mlive
He later teamed with his wife, Vonnie, who was head coach at Saginaw Heritage, as an assistant coach for the girls' team.
Bill DeLong's coaching career, by the numbers
- 80
- years old when he died Saturday
- 2
- state titles at Carrollton, in 1981 and 1982
- 2
- Class-A titles at Saginaw Heritage, in 2018 and 2019
Sources: WJRT ABC12, mlive
- High school: Saginaw High
- College: Central Michigan University
- Community: helped organize GreekFest in Saginaw Township
Sources: WJRT ABC12, mlive