LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Tyler Smith's nominator would like to remain anonymous.

One of the most difficult things to master as an educator is the "art of teaching." The art of teaching is the ability to make instruction come alive and build lifelong relationships with students. Coach Smith has this ability laced into his very core and can connect with students and athletes in unparalleled ways. 

Coach Smith has been coaching and teaching for nearly a decade. He has gone out of his way to help his students or athletes through every opportunity provided to him. Many believe that teachers only “teach” content and nothing more, but those who truly understand education know teachers and coaches often deal with so much more than their subject areas. Kids come to school dealing with a variety of issues, from financial struggles to poor mental health.

Coach Smith blends his instruction with daily character-building, which is woven into the very fabric of his classroom. He works diligently, especially with male students, to instill a strong ethical foundation and work ethic that they take with them into adulthood through humor, stories, experiences, and wisdom. He attends numerous school activities and sporting events to support his “kids,” even when those “kids” go off to college and it takes hours to drive to see them.  Although his former students remember some of the information they learned about science from Coach Smith's classes, they more often remember the life lessons he instilled in them.

After graduation, students still flock to visit or call Coach Smith and discuss life with him. He always makes time to speak with them at length or meet up for lunch to hear how their adult lives are going. There are so many students and athletes who can testify to his influence and impact on their lives. 

Last year, Coach Smith lost his mentor and one of his closest friends, Bart Williams, to cancer. During the first baseball season Bart underwent chemotherapy, Coach Smith silently and humbly took over varsity responsibilities behind the scenes so Bart could focus on his treatments without having to give up his head coaching job. Coach Smith drove Bart to Houston for appointments, and to local chemotherapy treatments. He also tended to Bart’s needs as they arose during coaching season when he was away from home.

In Bart’s final months, Coach Smith was by his side several times a week, helping Bart’s wife tend to his care. Bart was married to another teacher and coach and had two girls, who were each in high school and college, respectively. Both girls have always been close to Coach Smith, but they became even more dependent on him through Bart’s battle with cancer. The youngest still refers to Coach Smith as her second dad and calls him regularly to talk about boys, prom, basketball, and friendships. His selfless acts paint a picture of his character and personality that should be recognized.

Unfortunately, the reality of being a coach is that you cannot please everyone, and Coach Smith has experienced his fair share of parents and students who have not agreed with his coaching decisions. Through each situation, he has taken the time to communicate with each athlete in ways to create growth opportunities for the player and come to a common goal to better support the team. Coach Smith works hard to connect with his students and athletes, and he'll do whatever he can to tear down obstacles to repair those relationships. 

Through all this, Coach Smith has two sons of his own. He is a role model for his children, and he attends as many of their games and practices as his schedule allows. He also includes his children in his practices with his “big kids,” and leads his household.