Doing What I Love
- whotellsyourstoryu
- Mar 11, 2018
- 3 min read
Name: Steve Williams
UCR Alumnus
Former UCR Men’s Basketball Player
I was born in Columbus, Ohio. Due to poor living conditions, I moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, as a child with my aunt and uncle - as my uncle had a job working on the railroads. After a bumpy childhood and teenage years, I finally grew up and received a junior college basketball scholarship to Laramie County Community College. From there, I transferred to Eastern Utah after one year. It was a phone call I received from a friend asking me if I wanted to play college ball in California that sparked my interest. Since I had never been to California, I said I would give it a shot and come check it out. Following one open gym in the old practice facility, former UCR Assistant Coach Rick Croy (now CBU's Head Coach) offered me a scholarship.
That summer, I moved into a "hood house" with Interim Head Coach Justin Bell. We were roommates and teammates for two years. Since he is the head coach now I won't go into any details from our college days. (Just kidding, Coach Bell!) He was a nerd back then, but came to be one of my very best friends to this day and a DAMN GOOD COACH! I still talk to Coach Bell every few days or so. He is more like family to me now. Also, Larry Cunningham and I are in business together, as he runs our Long Beach Chapter of Team Nikos.
I was on campus a few months ago and it is amazing to see how fast things improve and change. I saw much larger buildings and many more things to do. I have to give credit to the university administration for making it a great looking campus!
I live in South Orange County-Mission Viejo area. During my time at UCR, I learned the importance of time management. Juggling school, basketball, and other extracurriculars, you have to have a good balance of everything to get the most out of your opportunity. Now that I have three businesses, a wife and kids, it's that time management that I learned in college that I am applying to my life today. Hopefully,I'll be close to retiring in the next five years, with enough money in the bank to sit back and continue to travel with my wife and family. I look forward to watching my daughter play hoops in college.
My advice to all the athletes would be to study something that you truly want to do when you're an adult. Don't choose a major because the classes are easy or because the job makes a lot of money. Study something that you are passionate about and LOVE TO DO - the money will come. Most student-athletes, I would assume, were like myself. If you don't know what you want to do when you're older, find some classes that are FUN and that will stimulate your mind because that's when you will get the most results!
It feels great to be a part of something bigger than yourself. That is why I believe being a UCR athletics alumnus is so special. The time I spent with my teammates and the memories and bonds created are what will last the longest. Justin and Larry will be in my life forever. I still can call up any of our former teammates and know that we will always support each other and have each other's backs. It's just that way with us because we know it's all LOVE.
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