‘Hey coach!’ Manatee leader who’s been a mentor to Black youth has new statewide role
Reggie Bellamy tends to shy away from being described as a role model, but his former students aren’t ashamed to say that his influence changed their lives.
“When Coach Bellamy saw me play, he believed in me and invested in me,” said Josh Mason, who started playing basketball for Bellamy at the State College of Florida in 2009. “He was the first person who told me I could play Division I basketball, and he gave me the advice I needed, but didn’t want to hear as a 19-year-old.”
“He’s basically the father I never had,” Mason continued.
Now, the Manatee County Commissioner has a chance to demonstrate his leadership and mentoring abilities on a statewide stage. Bellamy was recently nominated to the Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Black Boys, joining 18 other leaders committed to advancing the minority community.
“This is a panel full of people of color who are trying to make a difference,” Bellamy said. “This is something I’ve already lived. I’m committed to the work that has to be done. We will make a difference. This group is passionate. Like anything else, we’re going to have challenges, but these aren’t speakers, these are doers.”
Bellamy first became an elected official in 2018, but he was a role model for local youth long before that. He still serves as the executive director of the Palmetto Youth Center, and he used to coach various levels of boys basketball.
In an interview with the Bradenton Herald, Bellamy said he’s excited about the chance to amplify his leadership abilities in an effort to improve the lives of countless Florida children.
“I knew we put the application in, but let’s be honest — it’s a longshot,” said Bellamy, who recalled punching the air out of excitement during a public meeting. “The stars aligned, and I was excited to read that email.”
Florida board aims to progress Black families
The Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Black Boys meets routinely to discuss various ways to improve the lives of Black residents. Founded in 2006, the group has led studies aimed at improving education, reducing incarceration rates and improving mental health.
The council has put together community forums and teen workshops aimed at improving the socioeconomic standing of Black families.
In recent years, Bellamy has led the Manatee County Commission to declare racism a public health crisis and was instrumental in securing body cameras for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Bellamy is assigned to the board’s Education Development Subcommittee and the Man Up Committee, which focuses on mentorship opportunities. Despite years of coaching and mentoring experience, the 50-year-old Palmetto native shies away from being called a role model.
“I’m not going to say I’m a role model. I just want to be the best Reggie I can be,” Bellamy said.
But friends, colleagues and former athletes say that’s the only way to accurately describe the work Bellamy has done.
Bellamy’s nomination is a ‘perfect’ fit
“He’d be a role model for anyone. Doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, or even your age. He’s one of my role models, really,” said Dustin Dahlquist, the principal at Lakewood Ranch High School and one of Bellamy’s close friends.
“He does what he believes is right, and that’s a little different than what you might expect in today’s politics,” Dahlquist added. “He’s never going to compromise his morals. He’s definitely a role model for anybody.”
Through basketball, and the mentorship that comes with it, Bellamy built lasting relationships with several of his former players. Many of them attribute their success to the time they spent learning from him.
“He’s just someone who gave me the guidance I didn’t have growing up. I wouldn’t be where I’m at now if it wasn’t for him,” said Mason, who now works as a business manager for NBA and college athletes. “Our relationship goes beyond basketball.”
Commissioner Misty Servia, who also joined the board in 2018, also recognizes Bellamy’s impact on local youth. She said she often runs into adults who point to Bellamy as one of their mentors.
“One of the first things I did after getting elected in 2018 was the Martin Luther King Parade. Commissioner Bellamy was in the car ahead of me, and I’m watching him, and every kid on the street in front of me is yelling ‘Hey coach!’ I’m not kidding when I say he knew all the kids on that parade route,” Servia said. “Commissioner Bellamy is very engaged with our youth and mentoring kids and making sure that his community is not overlooked, so I think he’s the perfect choice.”
‘Make good decisions’
There’s just one piece of advice that Bellamy preaches — make good decisions and avoid the unnecessary. Friends and colleagues say Bellamy’s catchphrase has propelled them through tough times.
“That’s a simple phrase, but it has a pretty deep meaning to it,” Dahlquist said.
“(Bellamy) never told me what I could and couldn’t do. He would just say I had to live with the decision. He always taught me to never play the victim to circumstances I created and that I knew right from wrong,” Mason added. “He held the keys to what I’d been dreaming about.”
For Bellamy, it’s all about taking what life has taught him and passing those lessons along to the next person.
“My goal is to be the best I can be and to make somebody else better than I am,” Bellamy explained. “I’m not in charge of everything, but when all is said and done, it’ll be clear that I helped somebody.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 5:50 AM.
