# Bill Hayward

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This article is about the track and field coach. For the rugby union player, see [Bill Hayward (rugby union)](/source/Bill_Hayward_(rugby_union)). For the Australian educator and cricketer, see [Bill Hayward (educator)](/source/Bill_Hayward_(educator)). For other people, see [William Hayward](/source/William_Hayward_(disambiguation)).

**William Louis** "**Colonel Bill**" **Hayward** (July 2, 1868 – December 14, 1947) was an American-Canadian [track and field](/source/Track_and_field) and [basketball](/source/Basketball) coach. He coached track at the [University of Oregon](/source/University_of_Oregon) for 44 years,[1][2] and for six [United States Olympic](/source/United_States_at_the_Olympics) teams, from [1908](/source/Athletics_at_the_1908_Summer_Olympics) through [1932](/source/Athletics_at_the_1932_Summer_Olympics).[3]

## Athletic career

Hayward was born in [Detroit](/source/Detroit). His parents were [Canadians](/source/Canadians) and he grew up in [Toronto, Ontario](/source/Toronto), Canada.[4] An all-around athlete likened to [Jim Thorpe](/source/Jim_Thorpe), Hayward excelled at [ice hockey](/source/Ice_hockey), [rowing](/source/Rowing_(sport)), [wrestling](/source/Wrestling), [boxing](/source/Boxing), and played [lacrosse](/source/Lacrosse) on one of the [Ottawa Capitals](/source/Ottawa_Capitals)' world championship teams of the 1890s.[4] Hayward was also renowned as one of Canada's fastest sprinters, running distances from 75 to 600 yards.[4] His last name was originally spelled Heyward; he changed it later in life, when he headed west.[3]

## Early coaching career

Hayward's first coaching job was as an assistant [track](/source/Track_and_field) coach, first at [Princeton University](/source/Princeton_Tigers) in [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey) in 1898, and then out west at the [University of California](/source/California_Golden_Bears) in [Berkeley](/source/Berkeley,_California). In 1901, he moved north to [Oregon](/source/Oregon), becoming the head track coach at [Pacific University](/source/Pacific_University) in [Forest Grove](/source/Forest_Grove,_Oregon),[1] where he trained future Olympic gold medalist [A. C. Gilbert](/source/A._C._Gilbert) and coached the Boxers to the state collegiate track championship.[5]

In 1903, Hayward took the head job at Albany College (now [Lewis & Clark College](/source/Lewis_%26_Clark_College) in [Portland](/source/Portland,_Oregon)), where his track team defeated the [University of Oregon](/source/Oregon_Ducks_track_and_field).[4] Oregon promptly hired him as their first permanent track coach the next year.[1][6]

## Oregon and Olympic career

As head coach of the UO [track and field](/source/Oregon_Ducks_track_and_field) team, Hayward (who was known as "Colonel Bill" due to his gruff demeanor) built it into one of regional dominance and national prominence over his 44 years as coach. In all, he coached four track world record holders, six American record holders, and nine Olympians.[4] Notable Oregon athletes trained by Hayward include:

- sprinter [Daniel Kelly](/source/Daniel_Kelly_(athlete)) set records in the [100-yard dash](/source/100-yard_dash) at 9.6 seconds in 1906 and the 220 yard run (21.1 sec.), won [silver medal](/source/Silver_medal) in the [long jump](/source/Athletics_at_the_1908_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_long_jump) at the [1908 Olympics](/source/Athletics_at_the_1908_Summer_Olympics)
- hurdler [Martin Hawkins](/source/Martin_Hawkins) won a [bronze medal](/source/Bronze_medal) in the [110 meter hurdles](/source/Athletics_at_the_1912_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_110_metres_hurdles) at the [1912 Olympics](/source/Athletics_at_the_1912_Summer_Olympics)
- pole vaulter [Ralph Spearow](/source/Ralph_Spearow) set the [world record](/source/Men's_pole_vault_world_record_progression) in 1924
- long distance runner [Ralph Hill](/source/Ralph_Hill_(runner)) won a [silver medal](/source/Silver_medal) in the [5000 meters](/source/Athletics_at_the_1932_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_5000_metres) at the [1932 Olympics](/source/Athletics_at_the_1932_Summer_Olympics)
- discus thrower Ed Moeller set the [world record](/source/Men's_discus_throw_world_record_progression) in 1929
- javelin thrower Bob Parke,[7] [1934](/source/1934_NCAA_Track_and_Field_Championships#Field_events) NCAA champion
- sprinter [Mack Robinson](/source/Mack_Robinson_(athlete)), [1938](/source/1938_NCAA_Track_and_Field_Championships) NCAA champion in the 220 yard dash, won a [silver medal](/source/Silver_medal) in the [200 meters](/source/Athletics_at_the_1936_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Men's_200_metres) at the [1936 Olympics](/source/Athletics_at_the_1936_Summer_Olympics)
- pole vaulter [George Varoff](/source/George_Varoff) set the world record in 1936
- high jumper [Les Steers](/source/Les_Steers) set [three world records](/source/Men's_high_jump_world_record_progression) and was [1941](/source/1941_NCAA_Track_and_Field_Championships) NCAA champion.
- [Bill Bowerman](/source/Bill_Bowerman) succeeded Hayward as coach and co-founded [Nike, Inc.](/source/Nike,_Inc.) with [Phil Knight](/source/Phil_Knight).

In addition to his track coaching duties, Hayward served as the [athletic trainer](/source/Athletic_trainer) for Oregon's [football team](/source/Oregon_Ducks_football), where he was known for inventing knee braces and other equipment for the players.[8] He also coached UO's [basketball team](/source/Oregon_Ducks_men's_basketball) from 1903 to 1913 and again in 1917–1918, compiling an overall record o .

In 1912, Hayward was a coach for the [United States team](/source/United_States_at_the_1912_Summer_Olympics) at the [Olympic Games](/source/Athletics_at_the_1912_Summer_Olympics) in [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm), [Sweden](/source/Sweden),[9] the first of a string of six [Olympics](/source/Athletics_at_the_Summer_Olympics) in which he coached, through [1936](/source/Athletics_at_the_1936_Summer_Olympics).

## Hayward Field

Prior to 1921, Hayward's athletes trained at [Kincaid Field](/source/Kincaid_Field), which was also the site of Oregon's football field. The field was upgraded several times to accommodate the needs of the growing track and field program, but by 1912, plans for a new facility were made.[10] In [1919](/source/1919_Oregon_Webfoots_football_team), a new football field was built and named [Hayward Field](/source/Hayward_Field) in his honor; it was dedicated during halftime of its first football game, but Hayward was busy working as the trainer during the break and was not aware of the honor until the next day.[3] It was two more years before track and field facilities were installed at the new venue.[10] The opening of [Autzen Stadium](/source/Autzen_Stadium) for football in [1967](/source/1967_Oregon_Ducks_football_team) gave the track and field team exclusive use of Hayward Field, except for a few freshman football games.[11]

## Death and legacy

Hayward retired from coaching at age 79 in the fall of 1947. He was hospitalized a few months later after being stricken with a heart ailment, and died at [Sacred Heart Hospital](/source/PeaceHealth_Sacred_Heart_Medical_Center_University_District) on December 14, 1947.[2][12] Hayward was buried at Rest-Haven Cemetery in Eugene.[13]

[John Warren](/source/John_A._Warren) succeeded Hayward for the 1947–48 school year, giving way to [Bill Bowerman](/source/Bill_Bowerman), who became Oregon's head track coach in 1948.

Hayward was an inaugural inductee to both the [Oregon Sports Hall of Fame](/source/Oregon_Sports_Hall_of_Fame) in 1980[14] and the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.[6] In 2005, he was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.[15] The Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete of Year Award is given annually to the best amateur athlete in the state of Oregon.

## References

1. [""Bill" Hayward subject of page sketch in *Sunset*"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pyZQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=swsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6646%2C3125541). *Eugene Daily Guard*. October 1, 1915. p. 6.

1. Strite, Dick (December 15, 1947). ["Illness fatal to Col. Bill"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PbJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6119%2C1484716). *Eugene Register-Guard*. p. 1.

1. Newnham, Blaine (June 22, 1980). ["Pages out of time"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3PdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2OEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5856%2C6703073). *Eugene Register-Guard*. p. 1D.

1. ["Oregon Track Coaching Legends"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182330/http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=30597&SPID=243&SPSID=4584). GoDucks.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=30597&SPID=243&SPSID=4584) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2007-09-20.

1. ["Four Athletes And Coach Inducted Into Hall of Fame"](http://www.pacificu.edu/news/detail.cfm?NEWS_ID=3642&CATEGORY_ID=1). Pacific University. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071012130735/http://pacificu.edu/news/detail.cfm?NEWS_ID=3642&CATEGORY_ID=1) 12 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2007-09-21.

1. ["Bill Hayward"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110725212046/http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=243923). GoDucks.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=243923) on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2007-09-20.

1. ["'Smatter Bob, no push?"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CbNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m-gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6430%2C1778172). *Eugene Register-Guard*. (photo). July 12, 1936. p. 10.

1. Dennis Clark. ["Live Each Day: The Life and Legacy of Bill Hayward"](http://billhaywardspeaks.com/Bills_Biography.html). Retrieved August 19, 2019.

1. [""Bill" Hayward's lecture Friday"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WlcUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6065%2C332836). *Eugene Daily Guard*. November 4, 1912. p. 10.

1. ["About Hayward Field"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130711074355/http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22187). GoDucks.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=22187) on July 11, 2013. Retrieved 2007-09-21.

1. Tims, Marvin (September 17, 1967). ["Semi-retired Hayward Field still to play important role for university"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jqdVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7eADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4794%2C3102999). *Eugene Register-Guard*. p. 6A.

1. "Death Takes Bill Hayward". *Los Angeles Times*. December 15, 1947. p. A11.

1. ["Funeral rites set for coach"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P7JWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6991%2C1715275). *Eugene Register-Guard*. December 17, 1947. p. 13.

1. ["Hall of Fame Roll of Honor Members"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130801161027/http://www.oregonsportshall.com/inductee-members.html). Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from [the original](http://www.oregonsportshall.com/inductee-members.html) on August 1, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2010.

1. ["Bill Hayward"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080101030750/http://ustfccca.cstv.com/genrel/hayward_bill00.html). U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Archived from [the original](http://ustfccca.cstv.com/genrel/hayward_bill00.html) on 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2007-09-21.

## External links

- [University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame](https://web.archive.org/web/20151215055056/http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=243923&DB_OEM_ID=500) – Bill Hayward
- [Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum](https://web.archive.org/web/20150725134815/http://oregonsportshall.org/?page_id=155) – Bill Hayward

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bill Hayward](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hayward) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hayward?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.