 circa 1937 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 2, 1868 as William Louis Heyward[1] Detroit,Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 1947(1947-12-14) (aged 79) Eugene, Oregon, U.S. |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1898–1900 | Princeton (asst.) |
| 1900–1901 | California (asst.) |
| 1901–1902 | Pacific (OR) |
| 1903 | Albany (OR) |
| 1904–1947 | Oregon |
William Louis "Colonel Bill"Hayward (July 2, 1868 – December 14, 1947) was atrack and field coach at theUniversity of Oregonfor 44 years,[2][3] and a track coach for sixUnited States Olympic teams, from1908 through1932.[1]
Hayward was born inDetroit, Michigan. His parents wereCanadians and he grew up inToronto, Ontario, Canada.[4] An all-around athlete likened toJim Thorpe, Hayward excelled atice hockey,rowing,wrestling,boxing, and playedlacrosse on one of theOttawa 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.[1]
Hayward's first coaching job was as an assistanttrack coach, first atPrinceton University inNew Jersey in 1898, and then out west at theUniversity of California inBerkeley. In 1901, he moved north toOregon, becoming the head track coach atPacific University inForest Grove,[2] where he trained future Olympic gold medalistA. C. Gilbert and coached the Boxers to the state collegiate track championship.[5]
In 1903, Hayward took the head job at Albany College (nowLewis & Clark College inPortland), where his track team defeated theUniversity of Oregon.[4] Oregon promptly hired him as their first permanent track coach the next year.[2][6]
As head coach of the UOtrack 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:
In addition to his track coaching duties, Hayward served as theathletic trainer for Oregon'sfootball team, where he was known for inventing knee braces and other equipment for the players.[8] He also coached UO'sbasketball team from 1903 to 1913 and again in 1917–1918, compiling an overall record o34–29 (.540).
In 1912, Hayward was a coach for theUnited States team at theOlympic Games inStockholm,Sweden,[9] the first of a string of sixOlympics in which he coached, through1936.
Prior to 1921, Hayward's athletes trained atKincaid 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] In1919, a new football field was built and namedHayward 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.[1] It was two more years before track and field facilities were installed at the new venue.[10] The opening ofAutzen Stadium for football in1967 gave the track and field team exclusive use of Hayward Field, except for a few freshman football games.[11]
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 atSacred Heart Hospital on December 14, 1947.[3][12] Hayward was buried at Rest-Haven Cemetery in Eugene.[13]
John Warren succeeded Hayward for the 1947–48 school year, giving way toBill Bowerman, who became Oregon's head track coach in 1948.
Hayward was an inaugural inductee to both theOregon 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.
