Early Life and Education
Phil Knight was born on February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon. He attended the University of Oregon, where he studied journalism and ran track. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Army and later earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Founding Nike
In 1964, Knight co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports with his former track coach, Bill Bowerman. The company initially imported Japanese running shoes and sold them out of Knight’s car. In 1978, the company was renamed Nike, Inc., and it grew into one of the world’s largest sportswear brands.
Leadership and Legacy
Knight served as Nike’s CEO from 1964 until 1988 and remained chairman until 2004. He stepped down as co-founder and retired from the board in 2016. His leadership helped build Nike into a global brand, and he is widely credited with transforming athletic footwear and apparel. Learn more about his career on the Nike official site here.
