Te'von Coney Returning to Notre Dame to Share Business Mindset
Manti Te'o returning to Notre Dame gained some headlines on Tuesday night as he'll return to campus and be joined by another Irish linebacker great in Te'von Coney.
Coney, who played his final year for the blue and gold in 2018, has been a frequent visitor to Notre Dame, but this trip will be to enjoy the game and to network with student-athletes on campus.
"I've always been a huge advocate of being an alum who comes back to campus," Coney told ISD. "I remember how important it was when I was a student-athlete to have those guys come back who have been in the real world. They were able to give a sense of reality and how it all looks like when you leave Notre Dame.
"I know a lot of college guys don't like to look at that reality, because I didn't want to look at it when I was there. As an alumnus, I can give them a true sense of reality."
The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, native studied philosophy and business economics and graduated in three years from Notre Dame after enrolling early in 2015.
Coney wants to help change the narrative for student-athletes by showing his success as a businessman and how he treated everything like a job while in his final years at Notre Dame.
"I started a brand called 'The Business Baller'," explained Coney. "It's been going for two years. I partnered with some other Notre Dame alumni who saw my idea. I want to talk to student-athletes about how to be the business baller, which means going about your business where you're not only a baller on Saturday, but also off the field, so they will be prepared for life after sports."
The Business Baller isn't Coney's only business as he's involved in a few different ventures. Coney and his teammate Malik Zaire have started Jan Capital, a private equity company, which The Business Baller falls under. Coney also acquired Onóra Whiskey and plans to open a school in Florida in December.
"The mission will be to help students and student-athletes to become their own individual business while being in college," stated Coney. "I honestly didn't know I'd be this far. I have Onora Whiskey, which I never thought I'd have a business so soon. I also have a kids' foundation, and I'm in the process of building a school down in Hialeah (Fla.). The school is called Triple A, which is Academic Athletic Achievement."
Coney will also admit the success in the business world has come as a surprise and it's why he feels it's important to give back to his community and current student-athletes.
"I never dreamed of being this successful in business this early," Coney stated. "You hear about a lot of guys having success after 10, 15 or 20 years. I'm thankful to have sold a company, helped two other companies and created two Apps, have a kids foundation and currently building a school. I would have never thought three years post-Notre Dame that I'd be this far along when it comes to business."
What's Coney's message? It's simple.
Educate yourself on life outside of athletics, network and understand one can build a brand while in college.
"We all love sports and that's what got us here, but I'd be doing them a disservice by not giving them an aspect of how to make a career as a business," Coney explained. "What you've done in football is create a personal brand. There is a lack of information out there for college and high school kids. For me to show them both sides of being accomplished by going to the NFL and outside of sports with your own brand is powerful.
"I can pass down that legacy and that's what I want to show the kids. When this school is finished in December, I know it will be great for a lot of kids in my area because they know where I came from and it shows them the sky is truly the limit to what you put your mind to."
If you think Coney is satisfied, then you don't know him. In fact, Coney wants to set the bar for the youth in his community.
"I want to be the prime example of the guy who used football for leverage," said Coney. "That's why I'm happy to have the proof in the pudding of having these companies that are on the stock market and that are being sold and bought by major companies. It shows you can do anything you put your mind to. It's not only about sports and that's the biggest thing I want to bring back to Notre Dame."
Football was a significant part of Coney's goals while at Notre Dame, but he also learned life from then-head coach Brian Kelly and assistant Clark Lea.
When he signed to play football at Notre Dame, Coney will admit much of the decision involved football, but over time, he saw the magnitude of his decision away from the field.
"I want guys to focus on sports, but also how to become a better man," Coney said. "Coach Kelly and Coach Lea made me a better Te'von Coney since I arrived at Notre Dame at 17. I left in 2019 with success in football, but my biggest success came from being a better man when I left Notre Dame. That's something I want to bring back to campus and it's important I get back."
Coney has also seen Notre Dame's early struggles on the football field, but he also has a unique perspective on tough times as he was part of the 2016 season.
"I think the guys are getting adjusted," said Coney. "A lot of people don't realize how much of an adjustment it takes when a new coach comes into the building. In 2016 when everyone was getting fired, the crucial moment in that was we found trust and belief in what our coaches were telling us. I think these guys truly believe in Coach Freeman and they trust him. When you have that, it's sometimes more powerful than a win or a loss because it's about the long haul and not just one or two games.
"We have to stick by him and stick by the ups and downs for him to get our program where he wants it to win. Not only does it take time, but it takes commitment from the players. I think we have that. That's probably the biggest battle is to get the kids to commit. I know they'll click and once they do, Notre Dame will have success."
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