19 Facts About Frank Pyke

Frank Sherman Pyke was an Australian sports scientist, educator, author, Australian rules footballer and sports administrator.

Frank Pyke played 130 games for Perth in the Western Australian National Football League and two interstate matches for Western Australia, and later served as a professor at a number of universities in Australia, Canada and the United States.

Frank Pyke served as the inaugural executive director of the Victorian Institute of Sport, where he pioneered the Athlete Career and Education program.

Frank Pyke represented Western Australia at the 1956 National Schoolboys' Championships held in Launceston.

Frank Pyke made his debut for Armadale in the South Suburban Football League at the age of 15.

Frank Pyke played in the club's 1966 premiership win over East Perth, playing as a loose man in defence during part of the game.

Frank Pyke opened the bowling for the Perth Cricket Club in the WACA district cricket competition.

In December 1966, Frank Pyke left Perth with his wife, Janet, to study sports science at Indiana University Bloomington.

Frank Pyke graduated with a PhD in exercise physiology and human performance, and later taught at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, and Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Frank Pyke returned to Western Australia in 1972, where he accepted a position as a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Western Australia, and resumed his football career with Perth.

Frank Pyke is credited by some with "saving [Lillee]'s cricket career" and "[giving Lillee] back his fire".

Frank Pyke later served as the inaugural Head of the Centre for Sports Studies at the University of Canberra, Head of the Department of Human Movement and Sports Science at the University of Wollongong and Professor and Head of the Department of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland.

Frank Pyke held adjunct professor status at Deakin University, the University of Ballarat and UWA.

Frank Pyke was appointed the inaugural Executive Director of the Victorian Institute of Sport in 1990, a position which he held until 2006.

Frank Pyke was awarded an Australian Sports Medal in 2000, life membership of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 2002 and was made a member of the Sports Australia Hall of Fame in 2003.

Frank Pyke was awarded the 2010 Mobley International Distinguished Alumni Award by Indiana University.

Frank Pyke was diagnosed with motor neurone disease midway through 2011, and died in November 2011.

Frank Pyke had three children with his wife Janet: Stephen, James, who played football for Norwood and cricket for South Australia, and Don Frank Pyke, who played football for Claremont and the West Coast Eagles and was the former senior coach of the Adelaide Crows.

Frank Pyke has authored, co-authored and edited a number of books and articles, mainly on sports science and medicine:.