Chris Bellamy joins the show and shares a spectacular journey leading to a successful career. I did not know what I was getting into before our interview and at the end, I left with a smile on my face.
Chris hails from "Hard Hitten" New Britan, Connecticut, which the best podcast host in the universe thought was a white-collar city. I could not have been more wrong; Chris grew up in one of the toughest places in Connecticut.
Gangs were prominent and Chris joined in early before being arrested at 12 years old. This led to a stint in Juvenile detention where he made a decision to change his life. A mentor took notice of Chris being a dynamic athlete and encouraged him to play sports. He saw potential in football because there were more scholarship opportunities.
His senior year, a new offensive coordinator showcased Chris. Offers from Hawaii, South Carolina, and Auburn followed. Who wouldn't want a 6'2 athlete with potential to play multiple positions? Denauld Brown recruited Chris at UConn, as he waited on eligibility from the NCAA. It came late, a day after National signing day!
Coach Brown told Chris early on in the recruiting process they were leaving a scholarship open. It was loyalty which brought him to UConn, along with being close to home. Chris had a young daughter and was a dedicated father.
Blue collar work ethic, running back coach Terry Richardson and a positive attitude defined his time at UConn. Chris credits senior starting running back Taber Small for taking him under his wing. Taber made a huge impact on learning the different responsibilities of the position.
Nobody had to overcome more obstacles and adversity than Chris Bellamy. Put in an extremely talented group, he did not see the field immediately. It becomes heart breaking because football becomes our identity, as I know all too well. Chris had a rough stretch where he suffered through depression and even considered transferring.
In 2003 and 2004, we witnessed how special of a player Chris was. After being moved to wide receiver, injuries put him right back in the backfield where he finally received his chance to shine. He was instrumental in 2003 as the team went 9-3. In 2004, first year in the Big East, Chris played a huge role in leading UConn to an 8-4 record and Motor City Bowl, which was our first bowl ever. He ended his career rushing for 87 yards and a touchdown destroying Toledo.
After college, Chris was interested in learning how to manage money and provide a great life for his family. Self-taught, he became a Mortgage Broker, got a license to sell insurance and with his strong work ethic, he grew his portfolio.
These days, Chris built an incredible career working for TEKsystems as a Marketplace Diversity Leader. Living in Boston with a wife and young son, Chris still focuses on giving back by starting a program to teach kids how to be IT professionals. He wants people to have access, raise awareness and do the best he can for everybody he can because that was what was done for him.
Chris has a podcast, much better than mine, called All Black Men Need Therapy, which started in 2020. His platform exists in 143 countries that unpack past and present issues affecting black men's mental health, along with well-being. Chris and his brothers engage in honest, vulnerable dialogue surrounding the complexities of life as black men. They are committed to helping black men grow comfortable having difficult conversations while encouraging them to strive daily to become the best version of themselves. Chris speaks all over the country, most recently at Morehouse College and the Aspen Challenge, committed to making a difference.
Coach Randy Edsall was tough, we thought he just didn't like us. It was because coach knew life would hit tougher and he taught us to overcome adversity. Coach said play every play like it's the last one you will ever play. We all appl...
