Biography Before there was Nike, there was Blue Ribbon Sports, Inc., a partnership founded in 1964 on a handshake by Phil and his former track coach at the University of Oregon, the legendary Bill Bowerman. Phil and Bowerman shared a passion for helping athletes reach their full potential—and Nike believes that if you have a body, you’re an athlete. That passion, combined with a business plan Phil hatched while earning his MBA at Stanford, planted the seed for what would become the world’s largest sports and fitness company. A certified public accountant, Phil started by selling shoes out of the back of a car at track meets. One thing led to another, and Blue Ribbon Sports grew to become Nike. The name Nike was created in 1971, and the first line of Nike shoes debuted in 1972; the company officially became known as Nike, Inc. on December 31, 1981. As Chairman of Nike, Phil’s job is to listen to ideas, combine them with his own, and make decisions based on what’s good for shareholders and the overall company. More than 40 years after that handshake, Nike is still growing, driven by a passion for sports and a relentless focus on innovation for athletes.