The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009 and is named after former University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman, is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to the most outstanding male and female athlete in NCAA and NAIA track & field.
The first two winners of The Bowerman were Jenny (Barringer) Simpson and Galen Rupp, whose careers combined for three Olympic and three World Championships medals, including a gold in the Worlds by Simpson.
Past winners also include two-time Olympic decathlon gold medalist and five-time World Champion Ashton Eaton (2010), 2016 Olympic gold medalist and 2013 100-meter hurdles World Champion Brianna Rollins (2013), three-time World Champion 110-meter/60-meter hurdler Grant Holloway (2019) and 2021 Olympic and 2022 World Championships 800-meter gold medalist Athing Mu (2021).
As of August 2024, 22 winners of The Bowerman have won 21 Olympic medals — including 11 gold medals — 24 World Championships, 12 Indoor World Championships and 60 total World Championship medals.
Bill Bowerman served the sport of track and field in numerous ways. His leadership as president of the USTFCCCA’s predecessor organization, the National Collegiate Track Coaches Association, and his contributions to NCAA track and field and the running community as a whole are among his many lasting legacies.
For more information on The Bowerman, the award, the trophy and Bill Bowerman himself, visit TheBowerman.org.
ABOUT THE USTFCCCA
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches. The organization represents over 10,000 coaching members encompassing 98% of all NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA, NJCAA as well as a number of state high school coaches associations. The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as a lobbyist for coaches’ interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.
ANNUAL TIMELINE FOR SELECTION OF THE BOWERMAN
- January (first week): Initial meetings of The Bowerman Watch Committees, The Bowerman Men’s and Women’s Preseason Watch Lists published
- February (first week): First regular-season release of Watch Lists
- March (post-indoor conference championships): Second regular-season release of Watch Lists
- March (post-NCAA Indoor Championships): Third regular-season release of Watch Lists
- April (third full week): Fourth regular-season release of Watch Lists
- May (first week): Fifth regular-season release of Watch Lists
- May (post-outdoor conference championships): Sixth regular-season release of Watch Lists
- June (post-NCAA DI first rounds): Seventh regular-season release of Watch Lists
- June (post-NCAA DI Outdoor Championship finals): Release of award semifinalists
- June: Meeting of Bowerman Advisory Board to select three male and three female finalists
- June: The Bowerman Men’s and Women’s Finalists announced
- June: The Bowerman ballots delivered to The Bowerman Voters
- July: The Bowerman voting closes
- December: The Bowerman winners announced