Jim is a former American football player, university administrator, and business executive focusing on diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
He played at several positions during his collegiate career, including quarterback, running back, wide receiver and safety.
Amid the threat of deteriorating race relations, Betts saw an opportunity to alter Schembechler's clean-shave policy.
Betts told the coach that facial hair was part of the African American players' "heritage."
Schembechler agreed to relax the policy, reportedly "to the amusement of the rest of the players, both black and white, who believed Betts was full of shit.
[7] As a senior, Betts told Schembechler he was unhappy in the backup role and persuaded the coach to allow him to move to the defensive unit for the 1970 Michigan Wolverines football team.
[1] After the 1970 football season, Betts was selected to play on defense for the Blue team in the annual Blue-Gray All-Star Game in Birmingham, Alabama.
[1] After his playing career ended, Betts worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for two years.
He subsequently returned to Ann Arbor where he worked for an advertising firm founded by a former Michigan football player, Don Coleman.
[1] In the late 1980s, Betts was hired by Domino's Pizza as its Director of Minority Recruitment, a position he held for at least 15 years.