The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 37 He was never the team's leading receiver, always a complement, but he fought through injuries to notch a career-high 46 recep- tions for 530 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. More than anything, he knew what it felt like to battle for championships (win- ning one) year in and year out. "Just to have him and Mike [Hart] back and to revamp that culture — to be able to give what it felt like to win and their stories, what they went through — it resonates with a lot of guys," former Michigan linebacker and recent graduate assistant James Ross said. "It's not fake; not a façade. People know it's real when they speak. "It's no knock on anybody else, but when you've got high-caliber guys who played at that school come back to coach, giving everything they possibly can because this is what they bleed … I think that's a great addition." Hot On The Trail The toughest part for him now, Bellamy admitted, is the recruiting aspect. There's an element to it at the prep level these days, too — kids have options — but it's nothing like the cutthroat business college football recruiting has become. The transfer por- tal, one-time transfer without penalty, etc., have opened Pandora's Box to the point it's almost a free-for-all, one that's become tougher and tougher to navigate. Bellamy hit the ground running, though, helping land some key in-state recruits, in- cluding four-star defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, to help cap the 2021 recruiting class, just weeks after his hiring. His approach has always been to shoot straight, and it's paid off. "The thing with Ron, when you talk to him, you can have a roomful of people and it feels like you're the only person in the room," Rivals.com Midwest recruiting ana- lyst Josh Helmholdt said. "He really has that ability to connect one on one with people. "[Penn State head coach] James Franklin has that ability. People I've come across in this industry talk about the best living room guys, best recruiters, they talk about James Franklin. Ron has that same type of person- ality and approach. He can get fiery and 'rah rah' on the field, but he's a guy I think not just players but also parents trust." He's earned that through years of building, and it means something to him. One thing about the prep coaches in the state of Michi- gan is they still see Bellamy as 'one of them,' something he hopes never changes. "Though I've moved on and I'm a college coach now, I want them to still see me as someone they can call; someone they have that same relationship with — and I think they do," he said. "People talk about build- ing relationships and things of that nature. I feel like the state of Michigan has great foot- ball because we have great football coaches. That's something I respect and admire, what those guys have done." But he was ready to move on, and the perfect fit happened to be in his backyard — the place that shaped him into the man and coach he's become. He loves being at Michi- gan, of course, but he really appreciates be- ing at Jim Harbaugh's Michigan, knowing he can learn a lot from a coach who has had success at every level. Someday, he noted, he'd like to follow in his boss' footsteps and become a collegiate head coach himself. "I felt like he was going to develop me. When that time comes, who knows … I'm in the early stages, so it will be no time soon. But when that opportunity presents itself, I want to be ready for it," he said. "But I feel back at home. I had been at the facilities — a unique situation for me being a high school coach — and been around the program, but coming back as a coach is surreal. To come in that building and have an impact on the program. "Recently, I talked to [former long-time U-M assistant] Fred Jackson for a long time. You want to kind of hold yourself to a stan- dard those guys did — the Lloyd Carr, Gary Moeller and Bo Schembechler teams. That's what I most remember about Michigan foot- ball with those guys — how they challenged us to be better people, husbands and men." And that's what he's planning on doing with the guys he's coaching. He's checked all of the boxes himself thanks to his men- tors, and now he gets his chance to pay it forward. He can't wait to get started, already count- ing the days until fall camp. ❏ Bellamy built West Bloomfield (Mich.) High into a state power from 2011-20, and he capped his time there by beating nemesis Belleville in double overtime in a semifinal delayed until January, and then pounding Davison 41-0 in the title game. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND