Mike Bellamy returned to Champaign in 2019 after two seasons as wide receivers coach at Toledo (2017-18) and one season as quality control coach/analyst at Mississippi State (2016). Bellamy spent four seasons on the Illinois staff (2012-15), including three as wide receivers coach, and was a standout receiver for the Fighting Illini as a student-athlete in 1988 and 1989.

In his first year back, Bellamy helped Illinois to the 2019 Redbox Bowl, the program's first bowl in five years, after two of the most memorable victories in Illini history. Illinois clinched bowl eligibility with a 37-34 win at Michigan State in the biggest comeback in program history. Illinois trailed 28-3 in the second quarter and 31-10 entering the fourth to tie the largest fourth-quarter comeback in a Big Ten game in the last 40 seasons by outscoring Michigan State 27-3 in the fourth quarter, including Daniel Barker's game-winning touchdown reception from Brandon Peters with five seconds left. Illinois' 27 fourth-quarter points were the most by an opponent in the 96-year, 544-game history of Michigan State's Spartan Stadium.

Bellamy also helped coach the Fighting Illini to one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history with a 24-23 victory over No. 6 Wisconsin on Oct. 19, 2019. Illinois entered the day as a 30-point underdog before Jake McCourt's 39-yard field goal as time expired sent Illini fans rushing to the Memorial Stadium field in one of the greatest Homecoming scenes in University of Illinois history. The Wisconsin victory sprung Illinois to four straight Big Ten wins, the first four-game Big Ten winning streak for the Fighting Illini since the 2001 Big Ten Championship team finished the regular season with seven straight conference victories. Illinois finished the 2019 regular season 6-6 and 4-5 in the Big Ten.

During his previous stint in Champaign (2012-15), Bellamy was promoted to Illinois' wide receivers coach in February 2013 after serving one year as assistant director of player personnel and relations (2012).

Under Bellamy's guidance, freshman receiver Mike Dudek burst onto the scene in 2014, as the newcomer posted a team-high 76 catches with six touchdowns and 1,038 yards, which broke Arrelious Benn's school record for receiving yards by a freshman (676 in 2007). He was named second-team All-Big Ten, first-team Freshman All-America by Scout.com and first-team True-Freshman All-America by ESPN.com and 247sports.

In 2013, Bellamy molded an unheralded group of receivers into one that helped Illinois record the most total passing yards in a season in school history (3,452) and third-most passing yards per game (287.7). He guided Steve Hull's transition from defensive back to receiver in Hull's final season, helping him rank in the top 10 in school history in season receiving yards (993), season touchdown catches (seven) and season 100-yard receiving games (five). Hull also was the nation's most prolific receiver over the final four weeks of the season, posting 653 yards and six touchdowns on 40 catches (16.3 ypc) during that span. 

In his role with the Fighting Illini in 2012, Bellamy coordinated all former player events, assisted with on-campus recruiting and recruiting mailings, helped coordinate the annual Illinois high school coaching clinic and coordinated all functions with Block I, fraternities and sororities. He immediately served as a bridge between the coaching staff and former Illini players, coaches and staff across the country, building numerous relationships.

As a player at Illinois (1988-89), Bellamy was a second-team All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten receiver in 1989. He recorded 59 receptions for 927 yards and eight TDs for the Illini that season, the fourth-most TD catches in a season in school history and the ninth-most receiving yards. He also returned 16 kickoffs for 459 yards, an average of 28.7 that ranks second in school history. 

Bellamy stands second in Illini history in career kickoff return average at 26.4 yards per return, and his 170 kickoff return yards against Indiana on Nov. 18, 1989, remain the single-game school record. He was named one of the top 10 receivers in Illinois history in 2008 and was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Hall of Fame in 2007 for his achievements at the College of DuPage in suburban Chicago.

After earning a bachelor's degree in speech communication from Illinois in 1990, Bellamy was a second-round selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1990 NFL Draft, playing two seasons for the team. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders from 1992-95 before playing for Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League in 1995-96, winning the World Bowl in 1996.

Bellamy came to Illinois after serving as the receivers and specialists coach at Clark-Atlanta University in 2011. Prior to that, he was the passing game coordinator, receivers coach and specialists coach at Sprayberry High School from 2008-10. Bellamy has assisted at camps at Illinois, Virginia and Georgia State, as well as the 2010 and 2011 Under Armour Combine and the 2009 and 2010 Georgia High School All-Star game.

Following his playing career and before joining the coaching ranks, Bellamy and his wife, Tanya, built a successful business in the beauty industry in the Atlanta area. The couple has three children: Mike, McKenna and McKoy.

Bellamy Year-by-Year