John U. Bacon has worked nearly three decades as a writer, a public speaker, and a college instructor, winning awards for all three.
Bacon earned an honors degree in history (“pre-unemployment”) from the University of Michigan in 1986, and a Master’s in Education in 1994. In 2005-06, the Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellowship named him the first recipient of the Benny Friedman Fellowship for Sports Journalism.
He has authored ten books on sports, business, health, and history, the last six of which are national bestsellers, including Bo’s Lasting Lessons, Endzone, and The Great Halifax Explosion.
Bacon has also pursued his passions for radio, television, coaching and teaching. In 2007 he was invited to give weekly sports commentary on Michigan Radio every Friday morning and appears weekly on Michigan Radio’s Stateside, and occasionally on National Public Radio, which awarded him the PRNDI prize for nation’s best commentary in 2014. He appears often on TV, including HBO, ESPN, Fox Business, MSNBC, and the Big Ten Network, where he is a frequent contributor to both “Icons” series.
Bacon has taught at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, and teaches at the University of Michigan, where the students selected him for the 2009 Golden Apple award, given annually to the University’s top teacher.
Bacon delivers speeches on the themes taken from his books, and coaching and teaching experiences — including leadership, diversity, motivating millennials, and creativity — to corporations, universities, and other groups around the country and the world.
Bacon is an average hockey player, a mediocre Spanish speaker, and a poor piano player – but this has not stopped him from enjoying all three. He lives in Ann Arbor with his wife and son.
Contributions from John U. Bacon
- Bacon: For Michigan football's behind-the-scenes staffers, there is no off-season
Everyone sees the football coaches and the players when they go to a game at the Big House . What we don’t see are the 67 full-time staffers that support them, almost around the clock. These include e … - Bacon: A tale of two Michigan football teams
Both the Michigan State and Michigan football teams entered last weekend with something to prove – and one of them proved it. - Bacon: As college football begins, Michigan and MSU hoping for big improvements
College football is back. With Michigan State and Michigan about to begin their seasons, Michigan Radio sports commentator John U. Bacon joined Morning Edition host Doug Tribou for a preview. - Wolverines fall short in College World Series as Vanderbilt wins NCAA baseball title
The University of Michigan baseball team finished its season just short of a national championship. In the deciding game of the College World Series final on Wednesday, Vanderbilt beat the Wolverines … - Bacon: Juwan Howard is a class act—and the safest bet for Michigan basketball
When U of M men’s basketball coach John Beilein announced he was leaving Ann Arbo r for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, I was as shocked as anyone. But once the dust settled, Michigan athletic director …