Bill Bowerman Net Worth

Bill Bowerman is a retired American sports coach. He is credited with touching off the jogging craze in the United States. He also helped to shape Nike into a world-renowned brand. As a coach, Bowerman trained a number of Olympic and National champions. His influence continues to be felt in the sports industry.

Bill Bowerman was born in Portland, Oregon on February 19, 1911. The son of Governor Jay Bowerman, he attended high school in Medford. He played football and studied journalism. After graduation, he was hired by his alma mater as a track and field coach. In that role, he coached the school’s team for 24 years. During his tenure, the Ducks finished in the top ten in the nation 16 times.

Before coaching, Bowerman worked as a sports reporter and editor. In 1968, he made the decision to start a business in athletic footwear. This led to the creation of Nike, the world’s largest sportswear manufacturer. Throughout the rest of his career, he was a key part of the company’s operations.

Aside from his role as a professional athlete and coach, Bowerman also had a long list of other occupations. He owned an investment firm, a real estate development firm, a banking and insurance business, and several Oregon properties.

He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He was also a military veteran, serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and then as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment during World War II. He was awarded four Bronze Stars and an honourable discharge.

Bowerman had a very successful coaching career, with his Ducks winning every season except one. During his time at the University of Oregon, the team earned four NCAA titles. Additionally, the Ducks compiled an impressive number of individual championships. Over the course of his career, Bill Bowerman trained a total of 31 athletes who went on to win Olympic medals and American championships.

Among the many innovations and inventions that Bill Bowerman was responsible for are the Nike “Moon Shoe,” the Nike Cortez and the Waffle Trainer running shoes. These were among the first innovations that made Nike into a world-renowned brand.

Despite his success, however, Bill Bowerman was a man of great empathy. When he was a member of the Army Reserve, Bowerman had to organize and supply supplies to troops. During his service, Bowerman earned four Bronze Stars and was awarded a Silver Star for his stand-down negotiation of German troops during the Brenner Pass battle.

Bill Bowerman is a beloved figure in sports history. He had a profound impact on the sports industry as a whole, but especially on the sport of running. Through his leadership, the University of Oregon became the premier destination for professional runners. During his coaching career, he trained a total of 22 NCAA champions.

Bill Bowerman has an estimated net worth of $400 million as of mid-2016. It has been speculated that the majority of his wealth came from his investments in the Nike Corporation. He was also a co-founder of the company.