Fresno State alumnus Chris Herren will return to the campus where he became a household name among college basketball fans in the late 1990s while playing for Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian. This visit, however, will have more to do with life off the court, as Herren shares his powerful talk titled “The First Day,” in which he shares his journey from a college and NBA standout to his battle with addiction and road to recovery.
Herren’s talk – which is free and open to Fresno State students, staff and faculty who register online – begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at The Ruiz Ballroom inside the Resnick Student Union at Fresno State.
Since Aug. 1, 2008 – the day he began his recovery – Herren has become a nationally renowned speaker, traveling across the United States to share his story with youth, adults and high school, college and professional athletes.
“Through his message, he challenges audiences to rethink the conversation around addiction and encourages individuals to seek help and support,” said Jenny Swider, communications director for the Herren Project, a nonprofit addiction recovery organization that Herren founded in 2011 to provide free resources and support for those in need.
Through the organization, Herren and his team empower schools and communities to make healthy choices, while also guiding families through recovery. In 2018, he also founded Herren Wellness, a residential health and wellness program that helps guests lead healthy, substance-free lives.
Herren’s story was featured in the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films “30 for 30” documentary “Unguarded.”
Originally from Fall River, Massachusetts, Herren came to Fresno State in 1995 after a short stint at Boston College, when he was featured in a Sports Illustrated spread as one of the top prospects in the nation. After sitting out his first season due to transfer rules at the time, he starred for the Bulldogs for three years, helping the team to 20-plus wins each season and leading the team in scoring as a sophomore and junior.
“It’s emotional for me, it really is,” Herren said when he visited campus for a 2016 Fresno State Magazine video interview. “A lot of people gave me all they could at a very difficult time in my life here. When I think of Fresno, I think of all the families that never left my side. It’s a very forgiving place.”
The 6-foot-2 guard was the 33rd overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets and played 45 games as a rookie before being traded to the Boston Celtics for the 2000-01 season. But as he addresses in his talk, even while shining on the court in the NBA, he was dealing with an addiction that eventually cost him his NBA career and led to him playing professionally overseas.
Herren’s visit is being hosted by Fresno State Student Involvement, the Fresno State Alumni Association, the Student Health and Counseling Center and Associated Students, Inc.
Free pizza will be provided for current Fresno State students, while supplies last, as well as resources for students to learn more about safety and wellness.
For questions or media accommodations, contact Amy Allen, associate dean of Student Involvement, at aallen@mail.fresnostate.edu or 559.278.6034, or Student Involvement at 559.278.2741 or getinvolved@csufresno.edu.vement, at aallen@mail.fresnostate.edu or 559.278.6034, or Student Involvement at 559.278.2741 or getinvolved@csufresno.edu.
(Story by Alyssa Saldivar and Eddie Hughes)
