Bill Bowerman Quotations

A teacher is never too smart to learn from his pupils.

Several of my critics have said, 'Bowerman just tacks up a piece of paper in the locker room and turns his runners loose.' They're partially right. I do give the athletes a relatively free rein and for good reason. One of my principles is? 'Don't overcoach.'

I still bother with runners I call hamburgers. They're never going to run any record times. But they can fulfill their own potential.

It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

Now to explore the limits of the one competitor above everyone else you've always loved to face: Steve Prefontaine.

I think people can handle 150 to 200 miles a week. But something has to give somewhere. If he's a student, how's he going to study? He may be at the age of chasing and courtship, and that's an important form of sport and recreation, too.

God determines how fast you're going to run; I can help only with the mechanics.

This killing of Israel athletes is an act of war. And if there's one place that war doesn't belong, it's here. 1200 years. From 776 B.C. to 393 A.D., your fellow Olympians laid down their arms to take part in these games. They understood there was more honor in out running a man than in killing him. I hope the competition will resume, and if it does, you must not think that running or throwing or jumping is frivelous. The games were once your fellow Olympians answer to war – competition, not conquest. Now, they must be your answer.

To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.

There is no bad weather, just soft runners.