He’s helping them build skills on and off the field!
Kofi Hughes is a licensed personal trainer and the founder of the Chicago-based nonprofit Athletes They Fear (ATF). Launched officially in 2021, the organization is “committed to the growth and development of the next generation of Chicago athletes,” taking a holistic approach to ensuring they have the necessary skills on and off the field. A star college athlete at Indiana University, Hughes was tormented with identity issues that plagued him well into his college career. Struggling for his sense of belonging, he found that in football, and after years of chasing that dream, he decided to step back and do the necessary internal work to find himself outside of the sport he loved dearly. Now, Hughes infuses that same self-love into the players he coaches with Athletes They Fear, a nod to that commitment and his way of paying it forward.
“I noticed early in my career, working with athletes, that your zip code matters when it comes to resources that are readily available in your community. In Naperville, Illinois, athletes had access to elite-level training and places to hang out as a teen almost on every block. Yet my athletes in Chicago had to travel almost an hour just to find someone of my caliber to train under and have no third dwelling place to hang out at. ATF is about giving young athletes in underserved communities the resources and experiences that their peers in other zip codes would have unlimited access to,” Hughes told Because Of Them We Can.
With his organization, Hughes focused on helping youth across Chicago with college or pro aspirations learn the necessary skills in state-of-the-art facilities. He lent what he learned as a former wide receiver to help build the next generation of athletes, the Chicago Tribune reports. In addition to the technical skills, he supports them emotionally and helps build necessary social skills while connecting them to resources they need, including legal representation for NIL deals.
“He works with a lot of kids throughout the Chicagoland area, and all those guys motivate each other. The guys that he’s worked with, you can obviously see they’ve had positive things going on in their lives, me being a prime example. He’s really become a brother to me and mentored me. He’s touched my heart heavy. My Dad passed away [and] he’s been that guy to come in and make sure I’m staying on the right things, going on the right path. I just appreciate him,” said Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed.
Reed has been training with Hughes since 2016, even before the launch of ATF. Last year, he was a second-round draft pick, making his NFL debut against his hometown team, the Chicago Bears. Reed finished his rookie season with 64 catches for 793 yards and eight touchdowns, an impressive feat. Today, Reed continues to train with Hughes and pour into some of the younger athletes at ATF.
But Reed isn’t Hughes’ only success story. The ATF founder boasts dozens of NCAA and pro-level star athletes who he helped develop. Many say it’s not just the on-field techniques Hughes is teaching that’s contributing to their success, but his whole-person approach that’s really developing them into confident young men.
“You’re dealing with the next generation of people. The next CEOs, the next parents, the next employees, the next artists, etc. These young athletes need more than just a great speed workout. They need accountability, they need the tools necessary to navigate conflict and communicate their emotions, [and] they need immediate access and proximity to people who are in positions they hope to be in one day. I tell parents all the time the easiest thing in the world for me is to make your kid better at their sport, but the business I’m really in is getting that child to think differently, treat their peers with respect and love, and help them to begin thinking about their future and the person they want to be,” Hughes explained.
In the decade since he began this work, Hughes says he’s trained and mentored more than 200 players who have gone on to receive athletic or academic scholarships. Many of them have gone on to Division 1 schools, with more than half of them receiving full-ride scholarships. Despite the heights they reach, Hughes said it’s vital for them to know that while football is a great sport and a great dream to have in life, it is not your whole life, and whether you’re playing or not, there are still critical skills you can build within the sport that can ensure you live a fulfilled and happy life.
“Sports are merely the vehicle we use to acquire the resources and opportunities needed to live well. The aim is living well. Emotionally. Spiritually. Mentally. Physically. Professionally. We talk a lot about the roles a young man has to show up in – son, friend, student, teammate, grandson, etc. [But] most young men will say they’ve never thought about what kind of son they are or what kind of teammate they are. My hope is that these young men will begin planting seeds in many places, not just in becoming a football player,” said Hughes.
In addition to his one-on-one work with athletes, Hughes is preparing to open what he calls the “Greenhouse” for athletes on Chicago’s Southside. The place will serve as a safe haven for the young men, where they can train, eat, study, and be in community together. Currently, he’s set a fundraising goal of $1,000,000 for the initiative, covering all aspects of the program for the next four years.
“With that investment, we will be able to walk with 40-60 athletes from freshman year of high school through their senior year [and] prove with real data what happens when you directly invest resources into the people and communities who need them most,” Hughes explained.
To keep up with Hughes’ work, follow him @AthletesTheyFear.
Cover photo: Meet Kofi Hughes, Owner of Chicago Nonprofit Helping Build the Next Generation of Young Athletes/Photo credit: @AthletesTheyFear/Instagram