Bill Bowerman

About

Bill Bowerman was a renowned track coach and entrepreneur, best known for his innovative training methods and his role as co-founder of Nike. Born in 1911 in Portland, Oregon, Bowerman was the son of a former governor. He attended the University of Oregon, where he excelled in football and track. After serving in World War II, he became the head track coach at Oregon, leading the team to four NCAA championships and coaching 33 Olympians, including Steve Prefontaine. Bowerman's contributions extend beyond coaching. He pioneered the "hard/easy" training method and experimented with sports equipment, creating lighter shoes using his wife's waffle iron. This innovation led to the development of Nike's Waffle Trainer. Bowerman also popularized jogging through his book "Jogging" in 1967. His legacy includes numerous awards and inductions into several halls of fame, cementing his status as a pioneer in both athletics and sports innovation.