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Wesleyan University
173rd Commencement
Remarks Delivered by Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots
Sunday, May 22, 2005

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(LEFT PHOTO) New England Patriot Head Coach Bill Belichick, Wesleyan University Class of 1975, addresses the Class of 2005 after receiving an honorary doctorate from Wesleyan on Sunday, May 22, at the Wesleyan campus in Middletown, Conn. The commencement ceremonies were held on Wesleyan's Andrus Field at 11 a.m.

(RIGHT PHOTO) The day before commencement, New England Patriot Head Coach Bill Belichick spoke to students, alumni and parents at Wesleyan University during the university's annual assembly that is part of the weekend long reunion-commencement celebration. The event was held at Wesleyan's Freeman Athletic Center.

You Can Call Him Dr. Belichick

Coach Belichick, Wesleyan Alumnus, Accepts Honorary Degree from his Alma Mater
(MIDDLETOWN, CT) - New England Patriot Head Coach Bill Belichick received an honorary doctorate degree from Wesleyan University today during Wesleyan's 173rd annual commencement ceremonies at its campus in Middletown, Conn. on Sunday, May 22.

Belichick earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Wesleyan in 1975. Also a Wesleyan parent, Belichick and his wife, Debby, have been long-time advocates of and contributors to Wesleyan and community charities.

During the ceremony Belichick urged the graduates to give heed to their passions rather than take the easy way out.

"Follow your dreams," he said. "Resist the opportunity to take the job that might pay a little more in the short term...but offer nothing down the road. Pursue the thing you really love. Do that, and the rest will come."

The day before Commencement, Belichick addressed students, alumni and parents at the annual Wesleyan Assembly held in the Freeman Athletic Center. He spoke about his years on campus and how they affected his life.

"When I got to Wesleyan, my eyes were wide open to the people here," he said. "There were so many things that I had never envisioned, let alone studied. But the most important thing I learned over the next four years was that we need the ability to change and adapt."

He also talked about how his concept of leadership was formed at Wesleyan.

"Leadership is about one word: attitude," Belichick said. "At The New England Patriots, we talk about attitude, not leadership. That's the energy inside the team. At Wesleyan I see the same thing. I am grateful for the excellent facilities, but the life of the school is the people who are here and that passes on from one generation to the next."

Belichick has earned a reputation for being one of football's elite game strategists whose defensive game plans have consistently been credited for defusing some of the NFL's most potent offenses. In 2002, Coach Belichick guided the underdog New England Patriots to their first world championship against tremendous odds. He has led the team to two more Super Bowl victories since then, most recently this year at Super Bowl XXXIX.

The Doctor of Humane Letters degree Belichick received coincides with the 30th anniversary of his graduation from Wesleyan. His daughter Amanda is scheduled to graduate from Wesleyan in 2007.

During the ceremony bachelor of arts degrees were awarded to 718 undergraduates. Wesleyan also awarded 14 Ph.D. degrees, 40 master of arts degrees, 65 master of arts in liberal studies degrees and two advanced certifications.