Meet Youth Motivational Speaker and former professional football player, Richie Contartesi. Standing a stellar 5'7″ and weighing in at a magnificent 150 lbs. you wouldn't think he'd be much of a football player. Instead, he looks more like a chess player. Don't laugh, he's good at chess too!
Despite the odds and the naysayers, Richie walked on at Ole Miss and eventually received a football scholarship, started every game his senior year and earned the scholar athlete award twice. His inspirational book, "In Spite of the Odds" tells the triumph and determination.
"In Spite of the Odds" is an inspirational story of hope, determination, and success. After football and as a graduate of Ole Miss, Richie found himself sleeping on couches when he decided to start a business with only $700 in his bank account. That business has became successful and Richie now has a full-time staff managing operations. Born on December 10, 1987 in West Palm Beach, Florida, Richie is the only boy and has four sisters. He knew his athletic ability and resilience for success at a very young age by taking on the challenge of riding a 2 wheel bicycle at 3 years old and winning. His football career started when he was 10 years old and right away he found his passion. Richie was determined to play college football and from hard work in high school he had earned awards and accolades such as: Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, and Team Captain among others.