Getting My Hands Dirty
Buy the Book
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Bookshop.org | Indigo
Product Details
Publisher: GFB
Release Date: August 26, 2025
Formats: Paperback, Ebook
ISBN: PB: 978-1-967510-04-7; EB: 978-1-967510-05-4
Trim: 5.5 x 8.5
Page Count: 245
A Memoir of Resilience and Transformation from the Gridiron to the Garden
Chuck Hutchison
Tracing a journey of commitment, challenge, and growth, a former professional football player reflects on his time at Ohio State under the tutelage of Coach Woody Hayes, his years in the NFL, and his unexpected decision to become an expert gardener.
Chuck Hutchison knows the meaning of hard work—it’s rooted in every chapter of his life story. Born into humble beginnings in rural Ohio, he found football in his youth, which opened doors for him and shaped the trajectory of his life in ways he’d never imagined possible. Under legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, Hutchison won a national championship with the Buckeyes and learned enduring lessons that served him in the NFL, the business world, and beyond.
In the face of injuries, family struggles, mental health challenges, and an earlier-than-expected exit from the NFL, Hutchison came to rely on three basic principles: curiosity, confidence, and conviction. Guided by these foundational ideas, he discovered new ways to grow and heal, transforming the land surrounding his home into a garden masterpiece and breaking new ground in his own life, one shovelful at a time.
Getting My Hands Dirty is a candid and inspiring story of transformation, grit, and tenacity in football, business, and life’s next chapter. Told with authenticity and good humor, Hutchison’s story is proof that the pursuit of inner peace—and a renewed purpose in life—can be found in the most unexpected of places.
About the Author
Chuck Hutchison grew up in rural Ohio and was a member of The Ohio State University’s 1968 National Championship football team. His success in football took him to the NFL, where he played for seven seasons. A seeker of possibilities—both inside and outside of the game—Hutchison also formed a start-up football franchise, became a contract negotiator for the Green Bay Packers, and worked as a sales executive for one of the top one hundred privately-held companies in the US. Retirement offered him the opportunity to create a garden that was accepted into the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens. Hutchison lives and gardens in Asheville, North Carolina.
Visit the author’s website at www.chuckhutchison.com
Reviews
“Chuck Hutchison embodies all that Coach Woody Hayes sought to teach to his Buckeye team at The Ohio State University. Chuck is a terrific model of what it takes to reach your full potential in all that you do. Mastering his fundamentals of curiosity, confidence, and conviction, Chuck excelled in every endeavor. Dig in and learn from a winner!” —Jim Tressel, Ohio lieutenant governor; president emeritus of Youngstown State University; and former head football coach at The Ohio State University and Youngstown State University
“A powerful memoir that will appeal to more than just football fans. An inspirational read that is attractive, enlightening, and a beacon of hope for personal change and those envisioning a better future.” —Midwest Book Review
“A memoir about transformation. It's not just about football, or gardening, or even family—it’s about the courage to begin again, no matter how many times life knocks you down.” —Manhattan Book Review
“A heartfelt memoir from an ex-football player, Getting My Hands Dirty is about sports, business, and the healing, meditative power of gardening. Earnest and entertaining.” —Foreword Clarion Reviews
“Hutchinson’s wry observations and laugh-out-loud humor contain powerful lessons about the simple (but not always easy) rules that lead to success, despite hurdles and heartbreak. Yes, you have to do the work, and yes, you may have to get your hands dirty along the way. As Hutchinson’s account makes clear, however, the rewards can be immense.” —Gail Harris, creator and host of the PBS series Body & Soul; author of Body & Soul: Your Guide to Health, Happiness, and Total Well-Being, and Finders Seekers