Former UB Basketball Standout Achieves Goal of Earning Degree
5/18/2026 10:26:00 AM | General, Men's Basketball, Office of Student-Athlete Success
Calvin Betts was a standout on the hardwood for the University at Buffalo men's basketball team from 2006-10. When he left UB, he scored 974 points and grabbed 717 rebounds. However, the one thing he didn't leave with was a diploma.
Betts played in 121 games over his career and averaged eight points and six rebounds per contest. He had his best season as a senior, when he averaged 11 points and eight rebounds per game and earned All-MAC honors.
Betts had his best season, despite dealing with off the court challenges. During that year, his first son, Josiah, was born. Betts struggled with what to do next.
"Life just got to me, and I wasn't sure how to handle it," Betts said. "I ended up not finishing school and I was trying to figure out what to with a baby on the way. Do you work; do you go play overseas. What do you do? I chose to get into the working field and navigate trying to be a father."
Betts' mother, Barbara, was a nurse in the Rochester area and helped him get a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
He was once passing basketballs on the court. He was now passing medications at a nursing home.
While the jobs were paying the bills, not having his degree was hindering his dreams.
Betts starred at Rush-Henrietta High School, where he was the All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year in 2004. He has since returned to his alma mater as the boys varsity basketball coach. In his four years leading the program, the Royal Comets have been one of the area's top teams, even winning back-to-back Section V Championships.
He has applied what he learned from his coaches at UB with his own team.
"A lot of my coaching comes from what I went through at UB," Betts said. "The things that Spoon, TB, Coach Hawkins and Kwitch taught me. A lot of what I give now to my guys comes from what they taught me."
Even though he was having success as a high school basketball coach, now a father of three, Betts felt he could be doing more with his llfe and not having his degree was holding him back.
He kept in contact with UB Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Kelly Cruttenden and, with her guidance and encouragement, worked on a plan to finish his degree.
Along with help from UB Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Enrichment Melanie Bliz, Phd., he was able to finish his seven classes online to earn a bachelor's degree in African American Studies.
While he has worked in the nursing field for the past 15 years, he isn't giving up his dream of coaching. Now that he has obtained his degree, he is hoping it may open opportunities to coach at the collegiate level.
He has even discussed returning to UB to get his master's degree in either education or project management.
While it was his longtime personal goal to finish school and obtain his degree, the proud father of three, wants to be a good example for Josiah, now 15, son, Silas (8) and daughter, Mila (6).
"I'm going to walk the stage and I'm doing it for them, to show them to never give up," Betts said. "Keep striving for your goals. Sometimes life happens but you've got to keep pushing. Things that I didn't know growing up, I'm now able to give them so many different perspectives of life that I was able to get from going to UB and the experiences I was able to have."
Betts played in 121 games over his career and averaged eight points and six rebounds per contest. He had his best season as a senior, when he averaged 11 points and eight rebounds per game and earned All-MAC honors.
Betts had his best season, despite dealing with off the court challenges. During that year, his first son, Josiah, was born. Betts struggled with what to do next.
"Life just got to me, and I wasn't sure how to handle it," Betts said. "I ended up not finishing school and I was trying to figure out what to with a baby on the way. Do you work; do you go play overseas. What do you do? I chose to get into the working field and navigate trying to be a father."
Betts' mother, Barbara, was a nurse in the Rochester area and helped him get a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
He was once passing basketballs on the court. He was now passing medications at a nursing home.
While the jobs were paying the bills, not having his degree was hindering his dreams.
Betts starred at Rush-Henrietta High School, where he was the All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year in 2004. He has since returned to his alma mater as the boys varsity basketball coach. In his four years leading the program, the Royal Comets have been one of the area's top teams, even winning back-to-back Section V Championships.
He has applied what he learned from his coaches at UB with his own team.
"A lot of my coaching comes from what I went through at UB," Betts said. "The things that Spoon, TB, Coach Hawkins and Kwitch taught me. A lot of what I give now to my guys comes from what they taught me."
Even though he was having success as a high school basketball coach, now a father of three, Betts felt he could be doing more with his llfe and not having his degree was holding him back.
He kept in contact with UB Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Kelly Cruttenden and, with her guidance and encouragement, worked on a plan to finish his degree.
Along with help from UB Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Enrichment Melanie Bliz, Phd., he was able to finish his seven classes online to earn a bachelor's degree in African American Studies.
While he has worked in the nursing field for the past 15 years, he isn't giving up his dream of coaching. Now that he has obtained his degree, he is hoping it may open opportunities to coach at the collegiate level.
He has even discussed returning to UB to get his master's degree in either education or project management.
While it was his longtime personal goal to finish school and obtain his degree, the proud father of three, wants to be a good example for Josiah, now 15, son, Silas (8) and daughter, Mila (6).
"I'm going to walk the stage and I'm doing it for them, to show them to never give up," Betts said. "Keep striving for your goals. Sometimes life happens but you've got to keep pushing. Things that I didn't know growing up, I'm now able to give them so many different perspectives of life that I was able to get from going to UB and the experiences I was able to have."
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