Headed to Michigan as WR coach, Ron Bellamy 'grateful' for time at West Bloomfield

Ron Bellamy said his farewell to West Bloomfield High two days after leading the football team to a state championship and was formally announced as receivers coach at Michigan on Monday.

Bellamy, 39, is a former Michigan receiver (1999-2002) who coached the last 11 seasons at West Bloomfield. He led the team to the state title last Saturday with a 41-0 victory over Davison, the defending Division 1 state champion.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh also formally announced Monday that he will coach quarterbacks, while Jay Harbaugh will coach the tight ends and coordinate specials. Sherrone Moore will be co-offensive coordinator with Josh Gattis and will handle the offensive line, while Gattis will also work with the receivers as he has the last two seasons. 

"Ron is a high character individual as well as an outstanding coach and mentor," Jim Harbaugh said in a release. "He displays a lot of energy and enthusiasm for teaching and developing young men and has created lasting relationships with his players."

Bellamy joins the staff as his star running back, Donovan Edwards, also joins the team as an early enrollee. Edwards ran for a career-high 257 yards, the most in a Division I/Class A title game, and scored three touchdowns in the victory. Edwards already has moved in at UM and taken classes.

"I am excited about the opportunity to return to my alma mater as an assistant," Bellamy said in the release. "Michigan means a great deal to me and my family."

In a Twitter post Monday morning, Bellamy shared his feelings about West Bloomfield.

“I’ve become a better man, husband, father, and coach because of the experiences I gained throughout my time at WB,” Bellamy wrote. "I’m forever grateful for my experiences, the good times and the not so good times that helped mold me into a better teacher, mentor, and coach.”

Bellamy led the Lakers to the playoffs in each of the past seven years, including an appearance in the Division I state finals in 2017 and also made back-to-back appearances in the 2018 and 2019 regional finals.

Bellamy is the second former Michigan player to join Jim Harbaugh’s staff as an assistant coach and will immediately give UM a boost in in-state recruiting, particularly in Detroit. Mike Hart, Michigan’s all-time leading rusher, is now the Wolverines’ running backs coach after being hired away from Indiana.

Michigan’s defensive staff also has been overhauled. Mike Macdonald is the new defensive coordinator and Maurice Linguist was hired last week as co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach. George Helow is the new safeties coach. Defensive line coach Shaun Nua, whose contract expired earlier this month, returns, along with linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, who coached his first season at Michigan last fall.

achengelis@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @chengelis