In June of 1980, Bill Lundberg was running the race of his life. Just seconds away from qualifying for the Olympics in the steeplechase, he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Then in February, his father suddenly died. Only a month later Lundberg lost his first coaching job at Jackson Community College.Despite these early hardships, Lundberg went on to become one of the most important figures in the history of Charger Track & Field and Cross-Country. He coached his teams to 25 conference championships and led his athletes to numerous individual national championships. After two and a half decades of coaching, Lundberg retired in 2011. He continued teaching, however, and this fall he was named Hayden Park Recreation/Fitness Director.
When did they start calling you Wild Bill?
It was Wild Will at Kansas (Univ.). That was my coach Bob Timmins. I just had so much energy and enthusiasm. Wild Bill really came from my athletes here. It doesn’t seem like it’s ever been separate from me. When you think of Wild Bill, part of it is, I never really met up with getting the hair cut at times. It was part of what was going on in our day.
Can you tell me more details about your retirement? I know some cross-country runners were upset.
There was a lot to manage. It was demanding a lot from me. It is a hard thing. I gave everything I had to that last cross-country season. It was definitely different not being a part of that track scene but those are things I worked out with the administration and we came to an agreement on. It’s hard when you have to share that with your closest loved ones, family, friends, the athletes, and the students who don’t want to see things change for you.
Why did you wait to start running until your senior year of high school?
I was a solid basketball player. I was a fine guard for my high school. I had a coach that encouraged me to come out for the team.
So how did you end up at Kansas University?
In two years (at Jackson Community College) I became a really solid distance runner in cross-country and in track. I actually had multiple All-American statuses and two national titles in the mile and the two-mile, and was most valuable performing in the national meet. That gave me exposure to be recruited across the country. Believe it or not I choose Kansas over Michigan.
You were in the ’76 and ’80 Olympic Trials?
1976 was wonderful. I had only been running four years. I missed the Olympic team by two spots. I was fifth. I was close but that was a great success for me. I wasn’t ranked much better than 13th. How unlucky is that? Returning in 1980 I had a very traumatic experience, rupturing my Achilles tendon. In ’80 we were in a boycott year. President Carter called the boycott. It was a difficult thing to go through. You may lie down and bleed a little but you can’t treat them like setbacks.
Describe your relationship with legendary track athlete and former Republican Congressman Jim Ryun?
When I got to Kansas he was in a professional track career. I was 19 and he was 26. Following him in as a Jayhawk, he was larger than life. What we’ve done over the years is these Jim Ryun running camps, they’re Christian running camps. I’ve been doing them the past 36 years. I had him here (Hillsdale) back in 1985, then 1987, then he would return for CCAs or just to share about his life, running, family, faith, and being a politician.
Why did you decide to coach?
I actually got my bachelor’s degree in art education and I’ll tell you I was really geared to teach and coach. My plans were to come out of Kansas University to be a teacher first. I think coaching is the highest degree of teaching, just getting down in the trenches.
What’s the best way to find your purpose in life?
God gave me a vision to work with people. I was planning my way but the Lord was directing my steps. I think we’ve got to do everything we can to plan our way in life but also be really mindful. We need to pray about it. We need to really seek God.
So tell me about your new position?
There will be activities at Hayden Park and I’d like to impact the students who might not have the collegiate athletic experiences. If I can be that encouragement and energy; there can be biking, cross-country skiing, even competitions, anything we can do to bring about activity and enhance the quality of life.
– Sports Editor Phil Morgan
