The Coach Who Ran with Innovation: The Birth of Nike
William Jay “Bill” Bowerman was born on February 19, 1911, in Portland, Oregon. His early life was marked by a move to Fossil, Oregon, after his parents’ divorce, where he grew up with his mother and aunts. Bowerman’s athleticism was evident from his high school days in Medford, where he excelled in football and track, setting the stage for his future.
Bowerman attended the University of Oregon, where he played football and ran track under the tutelage of legendary coach Bill Hayward. After graduating in 1934, he briefly taught biology and coached at Franklin High School in Portland before returning to Medford to coach football and track, where he had considerable success.
His coaching career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in Italy with the 10th Mountain Division, earning several decorations for bravery. After the war, Bowerman returned to Oregon and took over as head track coach at his alma mater in 1948. His coaching philosophy was innovative, emphasizing individual athlete development, and he transformed the University of Oregon into a track powerhouse, mentoring numerous Olympians, All-Americans, and sub-four-minute milers.
Bowerman’s dissatisfaction with the heavy, cumbersome running shoes of the time led him to experiment with shoe design. His most famous creation came in 1972 when he used his wife’s waffle iron to make a mold for what would become the Nike Waffle Trainer. This happened after an unsuccessful attempt with a urethane sole that had been too sticky. The waffle pattern provided the traction runners needed, revolutionizing running shoe design.
In 1964, Bowerman and one of his former runners, Phil Knight, co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports, which later became Nike, Inc., with each investing $500. Bowerman’s influence on Nike wasn’t just in design; his coaching ethos informed the company’s culture, emphasizing performance, innovation, and athlete-centric products.
Beyond his contributions to sports and business, Bowerman was a pioneer in promoting fitness. After observing jogging practices in New Zealand, he co-authored a pamphlet on jogging in the 1960s, which helped kickstart the jogging craze in the United States. His book “Jogging” became a bestseller, popularizing running for health among the general public.
Bowerman retired from coaching in 1973 but remained involved in Nike’s growth until his death on December 24, 1999. His innovations in shoe design and his coaching legacy are commemorated in the Nike Bowerman Series of running shoes, named in his honor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Bowerman
https://about.nike.com/en/our-heritage/bill-bowerman
https://oregonquarterly.uoregon.edu/article/solitary-genius-who-sparked-global-revolution
https://www.opb.org/television/programs/oregonexperience/article/bill-bowerman-biography