Our clients count on Charles “Charlie” Hurt to coach them through life’s obstacles so they can shoot for success—earning job certifications and finding careers they love.
Basketball coaches recruit players, train them, and help them achieve their goals—whether it’s making it to the NBA, becoming a Hall of Famer, or simply learning what it means to be a team player or to work hard for your dreams. Our basketball-loving job coach, Charlie Hurt, would tell you that he does the very same thing for clients at Maryland New Directions. Working with our 18 to 24-year-old clients, Charlie recruits program participants, trains them, and helps them obtain certifications and employment opportunities in industries such as hospitality and guest services, commercial transportation, distribution and logistics, and more.
A longtime “sports guy,” Charlie considers himself to be a coach in every aspect—a basketball coach, a job coach, and a life coach. “My clients call me Coach Hurt because that’s what I am,” he shares. “I do more than help my clients find jobs—I coach them through life barriers like criminal backgrounds, living in impoverished areas, substance abuse issues, abuse, or the fact that they’re right out of high school with no clear career choices.”
Every new job coaching session with Charlie starts with him sharing his story in order to build trust with clients. “Relationships are so important when working with younger people,” says Coach Hurt. “And building relationships starts with finding a common ground. Oftentimes, my past experiences, life choices, and struggles help me connect with people.”
Charlie’s story starts in East Baltimore, where he was born and raised. “Growing up, basketball was my safe haven,” he shares. “I wanted to pursue a basketball career, which meant I needed to play at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School—and I did.” After being recruited to play basketball at several colleges, including the University of Pittsburgh, UMass, and Old Dominion University—Charlie found himself in a bad situation, which led to his arrest.
“I couldn’t point fingers at anyone—my bad choices were why I ended up in that situation,” he says. “During my time in prison, I decided I would use the gifts God gave me to teach younger folks valuable life skills—to let them know they have the power to accomplish their goals and dreams.”
During his incarceration, Charlie was an integral part of shaping a program called ROPE, Reaching Out to Provide Enlightenment, which taught people the importance of their actions. After his release, he worked as a mentor and advisor with several organizations, including a Psychiatric Rehabilitation program, Job Corps, and the Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy. His passion for mentorship and advising led him to Maryland New Directions in July 2019.
“Joining Maryland New Directions as a job coach gave me the chance to help people find new life opportunities,” says Charlie. “It takes patience, endurance, and a sincere effort, but I want my clients to know that the door is never closed. It just takes dedication and hard work.”
Working with our younger clients, Coach Hurt usually has 20 participants in his program each year, assisting them with interviewing and networking preparation, resume writing, employment readiness training, and even accompanying many of them to job interviews. Someday, Charlie aspires to launch his own non-profit organization and apply his knowledge on and off the court to teach youth between the ages of eight to 16 about conflict resolution through basketball. “Each day, I set out to help people at Maryland New Directions redefine themselves,” he adds. “I want people to win in life, and I think we can do that together.”
