Charles A. Baird - Acclaim For Baird's Role As Athletic Director - Track and Olympic Championships

Track and Olympic Championships

Michigan's success was not limited to football during the Baird era. Baird asked trainer Keene Fitzpatrick to serve as track coach in addition to his responsibilities as trainer for the football team. Michigan's track teams under Fitzpatrick from 1901 to 1910 compiled a 24-2-1 record in dual meets and won Western Conference track championships in 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, and 1906.

Michigan's athletes also excelled in Olympic competition during the Baird years. Over the course of four Olympic Games held during Baird's tenure as athletic director, Michigan athletes won 16 medals, including 7 gold medals. In 1900, funds were solicited from faculty, students, alumni and Ann Arbor businessmen to send four Michigan track athletes to the Olympics in Paris. The Michigan athletes won three silver medals in Paris — John McLean in the high hurdles, Charles Dvorak in the pole vault, and Howard Hayes in the 800 meter race.

One of the highlights for Michigan athletics during the Baird era came at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri, which have sometimes been referred to as the "Michigan Olympics." Six University of Michigan athletes won 10 medals: six gold, two silver, and two bronze. The Michigan medal winners at the 1904 Olympics were:

• Archie Hahn — gold medals in the 60 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters;
• Ralph Rose — gold medal in the shot put, silver medal in the discus, and bronze medal in the hammer throw;
• Charles Dvorak — gold medal in the pole vault;
• Fred Schule — gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles;
• Wesley Coe — silver medal in the shot put; and
• Jam Handy — bronze medal in the 440-yard breaststroke.

At the 1906 Summer Olympics in Athens, Archie Hahn repeated as the 100-meter champion, winning his fourth gold medal. And at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, Michigan athlete Ralph Rose repeated as the gold medalist in the shot put, and John Garrels won a silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles and a bronze in the shot put.