Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Heliin
Hi Chris, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a child, I faced what many would describe as a challenging upbringing, one that many could empathize with and understand if failure had been my fate. Yet, football became my constant companion, something I carried with me everywhere. I would often mimic the moves of the game, and it became more than just a sport; it was a source of stability. Football introduced me to new friends and provided me with an outlet to focus on when life around me felt uncertain.
This passion for the game carried me through high school, where I excelled on the field, even though I encountered my fair share of challenges. I was in the same grade as the coach’s son, who played both my positions. When I switched to quarterback, I started to gain attention from top colleges, only to suffer a significant elbow injury. Unable to throw the ball as I once could, I found myself transferring schools in search of a fair opportunity. At my new school, I was a great player on a struggling team, but the large offers I once had began to shrink.
Eventually, I came to Utah to play at Dixie, but before the season even started, another elbow injury sidelined me. At that point, I made the difficult decision to walk away from football. School didn’t hold my interest, and I decided to pursue my passion for cars instead.
Years later, the lessons football taught me started to emerge in my entrepreneurial journey. In 2020, I experienced a business deal gone wrong, and I thought my inability to communicate effectively might have been to blame. I attempted taking communication classes to improve, but that style of learning didn’t resonate with me. Then, I had the idea that coaching could help me develop those skills.
I came across an opportunity with a semi-pro team called the Salt Lake Senate and requested a chance to be a part of the team. Despite being away from the game for over 30 years, I was thrilled to be accepted as an intern QB coach. However, semi-pro football wasn’t quite the game I had grown up loving; it lacked discipline, structure, and accountability. But what I did see in these players was a reflection of myself—kids fighting for a dream, but without many opportunities after high school.
That’s when my entrepreneurial mindset began to take over again, and I started to wonder how I could change the game of football for the better.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Change always meets resistance, and football is no exception. The sport is so deeply intertwined with institutional education that any shift in the system is unlikely to be welcomed with open arms. Football is the biggest sport in America, with 1.1 million high school players graduating each year. Yet, it stands alone as the only major sport where playing at a high level after high school requires going to college. Sports like basketball, soccer, baseball, and hockey all offer pathways to continue competing at an elite level without a college degree.
Let me be clear—I’m not saying school isn’t important. But football teaches invaluable life skills and lessons that are crucial for the growth of young men. These lessons should not be reserved only for those who thrive in or can afford college. Football’s impact goes far beyond the classroom, and we need to ensure these opportunities are available to all, not just to those who fit the traditional mold.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Utah Islanders?
We are the Utah Islanders, a football team based in Utah. The team is focused on providing college-aged athletes an opportunity to compete at a high level, with the goal of advancing their football careers to the next level, whether that be collegiate or professional.
The Utah Islanders are known for embracing the Pacific Islander culture, which is reflected in our branding and team ethos. We play against top competition, including strong junior college teams like Snow College and New Mexico Military Institute, to help our players gain exposure and experience. The team is committed to the development of its athletes, both on and off the field, often involving the community in its efforts to uplift and support the players.
We provide academic pathways for our players to help them excel off the field. We assist in helping those who want to further their education through tradictional means, and or they can participate in our program called Footballs Parrellels. This program helps identify those with an entreprenurial spirt and helps them take their ideas from concept to market.
How do you think about happiness?
Happiness takes practice, it is a skill that has to be learned. Once you learn how to be happy you then must learn to eliminate those things in your life that do not promote it. Happiness is also contagous so it will bring people in your life that also enjoy happiness.
We should understand that happiness is a choice. Once you understand that life simplifies for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.utahislanders.com
- Instagram: utahislanders
- Facebook: utahislanders
- Twitter: utahislanders
