Payton Jordan
Encyclopedia
Payton Jordan was the head coach of the 1968 United States
Olympic
track and field
team, one of the most powerful track teams ever assembled, which won a record twenty-four medals, including twelve golds. He was born in Whittier, California
. Jordan was exceedingly successful as a collegiate track coach for a decade at Occidental College
and for 23 years at Stanford University
. A star three-sport athlete in his youth, Jordan more recently became one of the most dominant track athletes of all time, as a sprinter
, in senior divisions (age 50 and over). Jordan died of cancer at his home in Laguna Hills, California
on February 5, 2009.
Jordan excelled in track, rugby
and football. Jordan was a star athlete at Pasadena High School in Pasadena, California
, and graduated from the University of Southern California
(USC), where he was captain of the Trojans' National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Championship track team in 1939. He helped the Trojans win two national collegiate team titles, in 1938 and 1939, and was a member of a world-record-setting 440-yard relay team, in a time of 40.5 seconds. Also in 1939, Jordan played on the Trojan football team that beat Duke University
, 7-3, in the Rose Bowl
. He won the Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU) 100 meters title in 1941.
Jordan missed his opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games as an athlete (both the 1940 and 1944 Games were canceled due to World War II], joining the United States Navy
instead.
Jordan has cited three mentors as instrumental to shaping his career, philosophy, and coaching style - at Pasadena High, track coach Carl Metten, and at USC track coach Dean Cromwell and football coach Howard Jones.
track and field championships and ten league titles. One of his athletes, Bob Gutowski
, set a world record in the pole vault
. During his 23 years as Stanford's track coach, between 1957 and 1979, Payton produced seven Olympians, six world record holders and six national champions. Jordan directed two of the greatest track meets ever held on American soil, the 1960 Olympic Trials and the 1962 USA-USSR dual meet, both at Stanford.
Jordan was the head coach of the 1968 US Olympic
track team, and an assistant coach for the 1964 US Olympic
track team. Billy Mills
' upset victory in the 10,000 meters, the legendary leap of 29’2-1/2 by Bob Beamon
in the long jump
, the (third and) fourth gold medal in the discus by Al Oerter
, the 100 meters sprint world record of 9.9 seconds by Jim Hines
, Tommie Smith
’s gold medal win in the 200 meters in 19.8 seconds, and Lee Evans
’ world record (43.8 seconds) in the 400 meters were among the many Olympic highlights achieved when Jordan was head coach.
Masters division American and world sprint records
Jordan began competing again at the Lake Tahoe
Masters meet in 1972, after encouragement from friends.
There are others who do not agree with Scott and Ward's perspective. Jordan, a far-right political conservative, had many battles with his athletes in the late 1960s and 1970s over issues such as personal appearance. Athletes with hair over their ears were not allowed to suit up for his teams, for instance. (In January 1969, Jordan allowed his team to vote as to whether or not to allow hair-length to be a personal matter. When the team overwhelmingly voted to let appearance be a matter of individual discretion, he simply ignored the outcome.) Jordan's training methods, which emphasized quality work over quantity, were also out of sync with evolving ideas. Partially as a result, Stanford fielded one of the worst track-and-field teams in the Pacific Conference for most of Jordan's 23-year tenure. Stanford not only never beat southern powerhouses USC and UCLA; his teams defeated arch rival Cal in the "Big Meet" just seven times. A man with a reputation as a track "immortal", Jordan coached only 29 All-American athletes during his 23 years on The Farm. (To be an "All-American", all that is required is to be among the top 8 or 12 athletes in your event in the country.) Aside from a second-place NCAA finish in 1963, Stanford track & field under Payton Jordan was never a force to be reckoned with. In his defense however, it should be pointed out that Stanford was always a more difficult school to gain admittance. Many blue chip athletes simply didn't have the grades. Even so, innumerable outstanding recruits during the Jordan years never came close to reaching the potential they had demonstrated in high school.
, May 31, 2004. Since its inception in 2000, the USATF Golden Spike tour event has brought international track superstars to Stanford. The event has also established itself as a premier stop on the international IAAF Grand Prix
tour. More than 75 Olympians from dozens of countries have competed at the event.
, as well as separately in the 1996 inaugural class of the USA Track and Field
Masters Hall of Fame Jordan is also a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
, USC, Occidental College, Stanford University, NAIA, Mt. SAC Relays
and the National Senior Games Association
Halls of Fame. In honor of his numerous outstanding achievements and contributions, in 2004 the US Open track meet at Stanford was renamed in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team, one of the most powerful track teams ever assembled, which won a record twenty-four medals, including twelve golds. He was born in Whittier, California
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
. Jordan was exceedingly successful as a collegiate track coach for a decade at Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
and for 23 years at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. A star three-sport athlete in his youth, Jordan more recently became one of the most dominant track athletes of all time, as a sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
, in senior divisions (age 50 and over). Jordan died of cancer at his home in Laguna Hills, California
Laguna Hills, California
Laguna Hills is a city located in southern Orange County, California, United States. Its name refers to its proximity to Laguna Canyon and the much older Laguna Beach. Other newer cities nearby—Laguna Niguel and Laguna Woods—are similarly named.-Geography:...
on February 5, 2009.
Education and early athletics competition
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
and football. Jordan was a star athlete at Pasadena High School in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, and graduated from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC), where he was captain of the Trojans' 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) Championship track team in 1939. He helped the Trojans win two national collegiate team titles, in 1938 and 1939, and was a member of a world-record-setting 440-yard relay team, in a time of 40.5 seconds. Also in 1939, Jordan played on the Trojan football team that beat Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, 7-3, in the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
. He won the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU) 100 meters title in 1941.
Jordan missed his opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games as an athlete (both the 1940 and 1944 Games were canceled due to World War II], joining the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
instead.
Jordan has cited three mentors as instrumental to shaping his career, philosophy, and coaching style - at Pasadena High, track coach Carl Metten, and at USC track coach Dean Cromwell and football coach Howard Jones.
Coaching career
At Occidental College, Jordan coached his team to two NAIANational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
track and field championships and ten league titles. One of his athletes, Bob Gutowski
Bob Gutowski
Robert Allen "Bob" Gutowski was an American athlete who competed mainly in the Pole Vault. He competed for the United States in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia in the Pole Vault where he won the silver medal behind Bob Richards' second consecutive gold medal, after finishing...
, set a world record 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...
. During his 23 years as Stanford's track coach, between 1957 and 1979, Payton produced seven Olympians, six world record holders and six national champions. Jordan directed two of the greatest track meets ever held on American soil, the 1960 Olympic Trials and the 1962 USA-USSR dual meet, both at Stanford.
Jordan was the head coach of the 1968 US Olympic
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
track team, and an assistant coach for the 1964 US Olympic
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
track team. Billy Mills
Billy Mills
William Mervin Mills or "Billy" Mills, also known as Makata Taka Hela , is the second Native American to win an Olympic gold medal....
' upset victory in the 10,000 meters, the legendary leap of 29’2-1/2 by Bob Beamon
Bob Beamon
Robert "Bob" Beamon is an American former track and field athlete, best known for his world record in the long jump at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, which remained the world record for almost 23 years until it was broken in 1991 by Mike Powell. This is the second longest holding of this record, as...
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...
, the (third and) fourth gold medal in the discus by Al Oerter
Al Oerter
Alfred Adolf Oerter, Jr. was an American athlete, and a four-time Olympic Champion in the discus throw....
, the 100 meters sprint world record of 9.9 seconds by Jim Hines
Jim Hines
James "Jim" Ray Hines is a former American track and field athlete, who held the 100 m world record for 15 years. He was the first sprinter to officially break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.-Track career:...
, 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...
’s gold medal win in the 200 meters in 19.8 seconds, and Lee Evans
Lee Evans (athlete)
Lee Edward Evans is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics....
’ world record (43.8 seconds) in the 400 meters were among the many Olympic highlights achieved when Jordan was head coach.
Coaching philosophy
According to Jordan, "One must be true to himself and his athletes. Establish TRUST in all of your dealings with others and be consistent in your ideals. But above all, a coach must use his own unique personality for you cannot be what you are not. Coaching is never a one-way street. The coach and the athlete must understand and work harmoniously with one another. The coach’s and the athlete’s objective should be one. If the athlete doesn’t aim high enough, the coach should sell and inspire him on raising his sights. The coach has to motivate the athlete in every possible way. The coach has to create attention, the desire to learn, willingness to practice, and the maximum interest. You have to try and provide for the fundamental needs of every individual: 1) physical well-being, 2) personal recognition, worth and importance, and 3) security and affection. Where both the coach and athlete possess the correct mental attitude, the range of their combined efforts becomes unlimited.”http://coaching.usolympicteam.com/coaching/kpub.nsf/v/2Dec03Masters division American and world sprint recordsMasters Athletics World RecordsThese are the current world records in the various age groups of Masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
Jordan began competing again at the Lake TahoeLake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
Masters meet in 1972, after encouragement from friends.
- World 100m Masters Records:
- Age 70 and over, 12.91
- 75+, 13.72
- 80+, 14.65 (1997, Modesto RelaysModesto RelaysThe Modesto Relays, now known as the California Invitational Relays is an annual elite track and field meet. It is held about the second weekend in May. For 67 years, the meet was held at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, California, a track notable for tight turns and long straightaways, ending...
, Modesto, CaliforniaModesto, CaliforniaModesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
)
- World 200m Masters Records:
- 70+, 26.8
- 75+, 28.14
- 80+, 30.89 (1997, San Jose City CollegeSan Jose City CollegeSan 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...
)
- American 100m Masters Records:
- 60+, 11.8
- 65+, 12.6
- 70+, 12.91
- 75+, 13.72
- 80+, 14.65
- American 200m Masters Records:
- 70+, 26.8
- 75+, 28.14
- 80+, 30.89
Champions for Life
Champions for Life, by John B. Scott and James S. Ward (2004, ISBN 0-9760447-3-0), is the story of the life of coach Jordan, and recounts highlights of his career, such as how his teams at Occidental College won ten consecutive league championships, an NAIA national title, and two top-five finishes in the NCAA championships. Scott has said that the book is “more than a biography of Payton Jordan, a true champion as a competitor and coach. The real story is of Jordan the teacher of character development and of the positive influence he exerted, recognized now by the many athletes he coached.”There are others who do not agree with Scott and Ward's perspective. Jordan, a far-right political conservative, had many battles with his athletes in the late 1960s and 1970s over issues such as personal appearance. Athletes with hair over their ears were not allowed to suit up for his teams, for instance. (In January 1969, Jordan allowed his team to vote as to whether or not to allow hair-length to be a personal matter. When the team overwhelmingly voted to let appearance be a matter of individual discretion, he simply ignored the outcome.) Jordan's training methods, which emphasized quality work over quantity, were also out of sync with evolving ideas. Partially as a result, Stanford fielded one of the worst track-and-field teams in the Pacific Conference for most of Jordan's 23-year tenure. Stanford not only never beat southern powerhouses USC and UCLA; his teams defeated arch rival Cal in the "Big Meet" just seven times. A man with a reputation as a track "immortal", Jordan coached only 29 All-American athletes during his 23 years on The Farm. (To be an "All-American", all that is required is to be among the top 8 or 12 athletes in your event in the country.) Aside from a second-place NCAA finish in 1963, Stanford track & field under Payton Jordan was never a force to be reckoned with. In his defense however, it should be pointed out that Stanford was always a more difficult school to gain admittance. Many blue chip athletes simply didn't have the grades. Even so, innumerable outstanding recruits during the Jordan years never came close to reaching the potential they had demonstrated in high school.
Payton Jordan U.S. Track & Field Open
Each May, the Payton Jordan US Track & Field Open is held at Stanford University's Cobb Track and Angel Field. After being renamed in Jordan's honor, the event was first held under the new title on Memorial DayMemorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
, May 31, 2004. Since its inception in 2000, the USATF Golden Spike tour event has brought international track superstars to Stanford. The event has also established itself as a premier stop on the international IAAF Grand Prix
IAAF Grand Prix
The IAAF Grand Prix was an annual global circuit of fourteen one day athletics competitions as part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations...
tour. More than 75 Olympians from dozens of countries have competed at the event.
Documentary film role
- Jordan appeared as himself in the 1999 documentary filmDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games, which chronicles the events before, during and after the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City and again in the 2008 documentary filmDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
"Salute" which was written, directed and produced by Matt NormanMatt NormanMatthew Travis "Matt" Norman is an actor turned filmmaker, best known for his acting work on Australian TV Shows Blue Heelers, Neighbours and Stingers, U.S telemovies Moby-Dick, Silver Strand and Ghost Rider....
. This film chronicles the story of the white man in the black power protest photo1968 Olympics Black Power saluteThe 1968 Olympics Black Power salute involved the African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving the Black power salute at the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City...
of Tommie SmithTommie SmithTommie 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...
, John CarlosJohn CarlosJohn 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...
and Peter NormanPeter NormanPeter George Norman was an Australian track athlete best known for winning the silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. His time of 20.06 seconds still stands as the Australian 200m record. He was a five-time Australian 200m champion...
during the 1968 Mexico City Olympic 200m event. Payton appears as himself.
Recognition
In 1982 Jordan was inducted into the USA National Track and Field Hall of FameNational 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...
, as well as separately in the 1996 inaugural class of the USA Track and Field
USA Track and Field
USA Track & Field is the United States national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking...
Masters Hall of Fame Jordan is also a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based professional association representing men's and women's cross country and track & field coaches in the United States. The organization has about 8,000 members...
, USC, Occidental College, Stanford University, NAIA, Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
and the National Senior Games Association
Senior Olympics
The National Senior Games or "Senior Olympics" is a sports competition for seniors from the United States. It is a multi-sport event specifically devoted to adults aged 50+ . It is composed of regional competitions held yearly in all American states...
Halls of Fame. In honor of his numerous outstanding achievements and contributions, in 2004 the US Open track meet at Stanford was renamed in his honor.
External links
- GoStanford.cstv.com - 'Legendary Stanford Coach Payton Jordan Honored: US Open Track and Field meet to be renamed in Coach Jordan's honor' (March 31, 2004)
- LATC.com - 'Payton Jordan enjoys life on the run', Pete Borello, Los Altos Town Crier (August 18, 1997)
- MtSac.edu - 'Payton Jordan, Event: Coach, Inducted to Hall of Fame: 1983', Mt. San Antonio CollegeMt. San Antonio CollegeMt. San Antonio College is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Walnut, California, 2.12 miles west of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ....
- USOlympicTeam.com - 'A Living Legend—Payton Jordan: At 86 years of age, Payton Jordan is currently the oldest Olympic Coach. As an Assistant Coach of track and field in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and the Head Coach of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games for track and field, Payton has been involved at the highest level of his sport.' Catherine Sellers, United States Olympic CommitteeUnited States Olympic CommitteeThe United States Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization that serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and coordinates the relationship between the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency and various...
Coaching Division - USTFOpen.org - 'US Open named in honor of legendary Stanford coach', Payton Jordan US Open Track & Field
- StanfordAlumni.org - 'Listen to Payton Jordan: Jordan reflects on the U.S.-U.S.S.R. track meet' (requires Windows MediaWindows MediaWindows Media is a multimedia framework for media creation and distribution for Microsoft Windows. It consists of a software development kit with several application programming interfaces and a number of prebuilt technologies, and is the replacement of NetShow technologies.The Windows Media SDK...
or QuickTimeQuickTimeQuickTime is an extensible proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. The classic version of QuickTime is available for Windows XP and later, as well as Mac OS X Leopard and...
), Stanford Magazine (May/June, 2005) - Litsky, Frank. "Payton Jordan, U.S. Track Team Coach, Is Dead at 91," The New York Times, Saturday, February 7, 2009.
- Chapin, Dwight & FitzGerald, Tom. "Payton Jordan: 1917–2009; Coached Stanford and '68 Olympics," San Francisco Chronicle, Saturday, February 7, 2009.