 Before enrolling at Michigan, Dvorak had competed in the pole vault, achieving a height of 9 feet, 6 inches.At Michigan, Dvorak worked with track coach Keene Fitzpatrick, who has been credited with inventing modern pole-vaulting technique.Fitzpatrick taught Dvorak to grasp the pole with his hands close together, resulting in a significant increase in the heights Dvorak was able to clear.