Bill Bowerman - Coaching

Few Oregonians have had as much impact on the state as Bill Bowerman, who played college football, turned the University of Oregon into an international track and field power as head coach and inspired the national fitness movement through jogging. And he co-founded Nike.

Born in Portland in 1911, Bowerman graduated from Medford High, where he played football. He played football at the University of Oregon in 1931 and ’32, and became a coach following graduation. He returned to Medford and coached the football team to the first Oregon School Activities Association state championship game in 1940, where it lost to Bend 20-7.

After a distinguished military career during World War II, Bowerman became head coach of the Oregon track and field team in 1948. In 24 years as head coach, the Ducks won the NCAA men’s title four times and became a national power, playing host to the NCAA championships three times during his tenure. The team won twice on its home surface. Bowerman coached the 1972 U.S. Olympic team, which included distance runner Steve Prefontaine.

Bowerman wrote “Jogging” in 1966, covering the concept of light running for all citizens, a subject he learned about during a trip to New Zealand. By then, he had entered into a handshake agreement with Phil Knight to form a footwear distribution company called Blue Ribbon Sports, which began producing footwear in 1966. Bowerman’s design for the “Waffle Trainer” in the early ‘70s helped the company expand quickly as Nike. He retired from coaching in 1973. He died of natural causes in 1999.

Bowerman was inducted to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.