Where did it all start?
Nike was founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. Knight approached Bowerman, who was his track coach at the time, with his distate in typical American running shoes. They formed a company together and by 1968, they had set the ball rolling. They began small, by bringing their custom shoes to track meets around Western US, but after some time, the company rose to fame.
Origins of the Founders
Phil Knight was born on February 24, 1938. Knight was the oldest of three children, growing up in Portland, Oregon. He attended Cleveland High School and was after graduation, wasn't ineterested in academics. In 1955, he enrolled at the University of Oregon, where he majored in business. Before founding NIKE however, he would join the U.S. Army for one year to which he then attended Stanford. It was during track class that Knight met Bill Bowerman.
Bowerman was born in Portland as well, on February 19, 1911. He graduated from Medford High School, and finished his degree in 1935 at the University of Oregon. Bowerman always had an interest for improving athlete services, specifically running shoes, as he was the track coach for the University of Oregon. Bowerman served as the head coach for 24 years, and in that time led his teams to four NCAA Championships. He was also known for being able to push the boundaries and empower his students. It was during his time at the University where he befriended one of his students, Phil Knight, and founded NIKE several years later.
