Lloyd (Bud) Winter
Encyclopedia
Lloyd C. Winter, better known as "Bud" (June 8, 1909-December 6, 1985) was the USATF (then called TAC) Hall of Fame Track Coach. He was regarded as one of the greatest sprint coaches in the world. Over a 39-year coaching career (1941-1970) at the then San Jose State College
, he produced 102 All-Americans, 27 who went on to become Olympians. Included in the list of successes were Olympic
Gold Medalists Lee Evans
, Tommie Smith
and Ronnie Ray Smith
. All the aforementioned also became World Record Holders, Evans' 1968 record in the 400 meters lasted almost 20 years—the first man to break 44 seconds, Smith's World Record in the 200 meters lasted over a decade—the first man to officially break 20 seconds. Winter also coached John Carlos
, who can also lay claim to being the first man to break 20 seconds in the 200 meters (though his record was disallowed because of the "brush" type of spikes he used) and Christos Papanikolaou
of Greece
, who was the first man to clear 18 feet in the pole vault
. As a team, San Jose State won the 1969 National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Div I Track Championships, his teams placed in the top 10, fourteen times. Winters served as an assistant coach for the 1960 Olympic team in Tokyo
.
at Hartnell College
in Salinas, California
to tying the world record in the 100 metres
. Davis never had the opportunity to compete in the Olympics, his peak years falling during World War II
. During the war, Winter taught relaxation techniques to Naval pilots. Also during that time, Winter invented a life jacket that would automatically inflate if it came in contact with water. It was those same relaxation techniques taught to sprinters that "allowed the speed to come out."
At SJSC, Winter's first success was Willie Steele
, who went on to win the 1948 Gold Medal in the long jump
. Winter's next success was with Ray Norton
, previously from Oakland City College, bringing him to be the number one sprinter in the world and tying the world record in the 100 metres. California State Junior College sprint champion Bob “The Bullet” Poynter (later coach to Millard Hampton
and Andre Phillips
at Silver Creek High School
) to give SJSC the top two sprinters in the world.
Also working with Winter as an assistant coach was Bert Bonanno, who went on to coach across town at San Jose City College
. Bonanno later coached many of the athletes involved the 1970s resurgence of San Jose as a Track and Field hotbed, including Hampton, Phillips, John Powell
and Bruce Jenner
(all Olympic Medalists).
. The stadium has fallen into disrepair. The famed Tartan track
, which Winter caused to be one of the first such tracks in the world, is used as a parking lot for the neighboring Spartan Stadium
. The site is now proposed to become a football/soccer stadium.
with Bonanno, one day before his induction into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
. In 2010 he was inducted into the African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
, he produced 102 All-Americans, 27 who went on to become Olympians. Included in the list of successes were Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Gold Medalists Lee Evans
Lee Evans (athlete)
Lee Edward Evans is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics....
, Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith is an African American former track & field athlete and wide receiver in the American Football League. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Smith won the 200-meter dash finals in 19.83 seconds – the first time the 20 second barrier was broken...
and Ronnie Ray Smith
Ronnie Ray Smith
Ronald "Ronnie" Ray Smith is a former American athlete, winner of the gold medal in the 4×100 m relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics...
. All the aforementioned also became World Record Holders, Evans' 1968 record in the 400 meters lasted almost 20 years—the first man to break 44 seconds, Smith's World Record in the 200 meters lasted over a decade—the first man to officially break 20 seconds. Winter also coached John Carlos
John Carlos
John Wesley Carlos is a Cuban American former track and field athlete and professional football player. He was the bronze-medal winner in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics and his black power salute on the podium with Tommie Smith caused much political controversy...
, who can also lay claim to being the first man to break 20 seconds in the 200 meters (though his record was disallowed because of the "brush" type of spikes he used) and Christos Papanikolaou
Christos Papanikolaou
Christos Papanikolaou is a retired Greek pole vaulter.He was born in Trikala. At a young age he joined the Sports Club of Trikala. After completing his high school education he enrolled in the Sports Academy of Athens...
of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, who was the first man to clear 18 feet in the pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
. As a team, San Jose State won the 1969 National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Div I Track Championships, his teams placed in the top 10, fourteen times. Winters served as an assistant coach for the 1960 Olympic team in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Early Success
Before joining SJSC, Winter coached Harold DavisHarold Davis
Harold Davis may refer to:* H. L. Davis , Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist* Harold A. Davis, pulp fiction author working under the pseudonym Kenneth Robeson, 1930s, 1940s* Harold Davis Harold Davis may refer to:* H. L. Davis (1894–1960), Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist* Harold A. Davis, pulp...
at Hartnell College
Hartnell College
Hartnell Community College is a 2-year community college in Salinas, California, USA. It was founded in 1920 as Salinas Junior College, and renamed in 1948 for William Edward Petty Hartnell...
in Salinas, California
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
to tying the world record in the 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
. Davis never had the opportunity to compete in the Olympics, his peak years falling during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During the war, Winter taught relaxation techniques to Naval pilots. Also during that time, Winter invented a life jacket that would automatically inflate if it came in contact with water. It was those same relaxation techniques taught to sprinters that "allowed the speed to come out."
At SJSC, Winter's first success was Willie Steele
Willie Steele
William Samuel "Willie" Steele was an American athlete who competed mainly in the long jump. Steele competed for San Jose State College, coached by Bud Winter in the early 1940's before enlisting to fight in World War II.He competed for the United States in the 1948 Summer Olympics held in...
, who went on to win the 1948 Gold Medal in the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
. Winter's next success was with Ray Norton
Ray Norton
Otis Ray Norton is a former American sprinter. In college he ran for San José State University, where he was coached by Lloyd Winter. He later won two gold medals at the 1959 Pan American Games. In that same year he tied Leamon King's record at the 100 meters at 10.1 seconds.In 1960 he set or...
, previously from Oakland City College, bringing him to be the number one sprinter in the world and tying the world record in the 100 metres. California State Junior College sprint champion Bob “The Bullet” Poynter (later coach to Millard Hampton
Millard Hampton
Millard Frank Hampton, Jr. is a former American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay and the individual silver medal in the 200 meters at the 1976 Summer Olympics....
and Andre Phillips
Andre Phillips
André Lamar Phillips is a retired American Track and Field athlete who is best known for winning the 400 metres hurdles gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games....
at Silver Creek High School
Silver Creek High School (San Jose, California)
Silver Creek High School is a high school located in San Jose, California which is operated by the East Side Union High School District. It is a California Distinguished School.-Code Red:...
) to give SJSC the top two sprinters in the world.
Also working with Winter as an assistant coach was Bert Bonanno, who went on to coach across town at San Jose City College
San Jose City College
San Jose City College, founded in 1921, is a community college located in the city of San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.San Jose City College was originally called San Jose Junior College and operated in downtown San Jose, California...
. Bonanno later coached many of the athletes involved the 1970s resurgence of San Jose as a Track and Field hotbed, including Hampton, Phillips, John Powell
John Powell
John Powell is a British composer, best known for his scores to motion pictures. He has been based in the United States since 1997 and has composed the scores to over fifty feature films. He rose to fame in the late 1990s and 2000s, scoring numerous animated films, and collaborating with...
and Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner
William Bruce Jenner is a former U.S. track and field athlete, motivational speaker, socialite and television personality. He won the gold medal for decathlon in the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics....
(all Olympic Medalists).
Speed City
The track stadium at San Jose State University was named "Bud" Winter Field. While he was coaching, such was his success, it was known as "Speed City." Since his departure, to the embarrassment of Winter's legacy, San Jose State closed down its track program in the wake of Title IXTitle IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a United States law, enacted on June 23, 1972, that amended Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2002 it was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in honor of its principal author Congresswoman Mink, but is most...
. The stadium has fallen into disrepair. The famed Tartan track
Tartan track
Tartan Track is the trademarked all-weather synthetic track surfacing made of polyurethane which is used for track and field competitions. It lets athletes compete in bad weather without serious performance loss and improves their results over other surfaces...
, which Winter caused to be one of the first such tracks in the world, is used as a parking lot for the neighboring Spartan Stadium
Spartan Stadium (San Jose)
Spartan Stadium, located in San Jose, California, is the official stadium of the San José State University Spartans athletics teams. It is currently the home of the Spartan football and soccer teams....
. The site is now proposed to become a football/soccer stadium.
Author
Winter authored the book "So You Want to be a Sprinter," still one of the leading works on the subject of sprinting.Death
Winter died of a heart attack in Houston at the age of 76 after playing a game of RacquetballRacquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
with Bonanno, one day before his induction into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
National Track and Field Hall of Fame
The National Track and Field Hall of Fame located within the Armory Foundation at 216 Fort Washington Avenue, between 168th and 169th Streets, in Washington Heights, in the New York City borough of Manhattan, is a museum operated by The Armory Foundation in conjunction with USA Track & Field...
. In 2010 he was inducted into the African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame