Tyler Smithhart said he had to pinch himself when we woke up Wednesday morning. Not as a belated St. Patrick’s Day punishment over a lack of green, but to confirm he wasn’t dreaming.
Just a few hours earlier, Smithhart cleared a hurdle he’s been trying to jump over since he was hired by his alma mater in 2012: he won his first-ever boys basketball regional championship as a head coach, leading Henderson County past Madisonville-North Hopkins in Tuesday’s 2nd Region final.
Smithhart, who served one year as head coach at Christian County after succeeding Kerry Stovall during the 2011-12 season, has been fervently knocking on the door for 14 years. And there has been no shortage of opportunities.
Henderson made the region championship game in Smithhart’s first two seasons on the Colonels’ bench in 2013 and 2014 but ran into a hot-shooting Trey Edwards in both games, which ultimately ended in defeat to Tim Haworth’s Hopkinsville squads.
Smithhart had arguably his best shot at capturing a state tournament berth a decade ago when senior star David Simmons had Henderson ranked and touting a 26-4 record as the Cols headed into the 2nd Region semifinals. Once again, however, mighty Henderson was thwarted by the defensive prowess of Ja’Qualis Matlock, the timely shooting of CJ Henagan, and the tenacity of another Haworth-led Tigers team.
After going a combined 74-18 in his first three seasons, Smithhart was Rupp-less.
That 2015 loss would begin a regional final drought that lasted nine years. Along the way, Henderson County had its share of semifinal appearances. Like previous years, though, despite the preparation and dedication of Smithhart, the Colonels would watch their seasons end at the hands of players like De’Torrion Ware, Jalen Johnson, and KJ Crump.
A year ago, Henderson ended the aforementioned drought and finally returned to the 2nd Region Championship, only to find a trio of Div. I players — led by Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer Travis Perry — waiting to dash their dreams again. Lyon County, which went on to capture the KHSAA state championship, bested the Colonels 56-44.
But beneath the numbers, the games, and the close calls, lies the real story — the story of a coach who never wavered in his belief that success wasn’t just measured by wins and losses, but by the unwavering commitment to a process. Smithhart’s resilience is not just about the 250 victories he’s amassed, the fact he’s been above .500 in every season, or the close shaves with glory. It’s about how he kept coming back, year after year when it seemed like the mountain would always be just a little too steep to climb.
In a community where expectations are as high as the hoops, where the name “Colonels” is synonymous with pride and tradition, the pressure to win can feel suffocating. For Smithhart, that weight was felt most acutely when key players transferred, when injuries took their toll, when the girls’ program was simultaneously having statewide success, and when the expectations of a school and a program that so desperately wanted to return to glory hung like a shadow over every practice, every game, and every decision.
In the face of adversity, though, Smithhart’s resolve has only grown stronger.
The challenges were more than just basketball. They were personal, too. As an alum of Henderson County, Smithhart understood the magnitude of what was at stake, not just for himself, but for his community. He knew that every time his team fell short, it wasn’t just his name on the line — it was the pride of an entire town, an entire generation of fans who remembered what it was like when the Colonels were on top.
The heartbreak of those near-misses, the late-game losses, and the what-ifs could have crushed a lesser coach, but Smithhart wasn’t about to let that happen. He chose to trust the process. He chose to remain patient.
And it wasn’t just about trusting the process in the abstract. It was about believing in his players, cultivating a culture of grit and discipline, and never, ever giving in to the pressure of shortcuts. It was about leading with humility, teaching his team the value of perseverance, and demonstrating that even in the most difficult of seasons, the belief in what they were building together could still yield something truly special.
Through the ups and downs, the highs and the heartbreaks, Smithhart has never once allowed himself to lose sight of the bigger picture. It wasn’t about getting there fast. It was about doing it the right way, on his own terms, and doing it for his community.
And this year, with a roster of hungry, talented players, a supportive fan base, and a steady hand guiding them through the trials of the postseason, it all came together. The culmination of 13 years of trials, near-misses, and relentless work brought them to the summit — to the moment when Smithhart and his Colonels finally, at long last, achieved what had eluded them for more than a decade.
One of the text messages Smithhart received Tuesday night, after Henderson defeated Madisonville 52-34 to give the Colonels their first regional crown since 1999, was from Haworth — the person responsible for the majority of Henderson’s tough losses along the way. A relationship built upon mutual respect finally allowed Smithhart to get his flowers.
Next week, Henderson County will once again grace the Rupp Arena floor when the Colonels represent the 2nd Region in the Sweet 16. It will be Smithhart’s first trip since he was an assistant on Christian County’s 2011 state championship squad. Unsurprisingly, however, he is not taking credit. “This bunch of young men have worked hard for this. (I’m) proud for them,” Smithhart wrote on social media Tuesday.
A journey that had seemed so long and uncertain finally has its reward. It’s proof that if you trust the process, if you hold fast to your values, and if you never give up — no matter how long the road — greatness is within reach.
After his quick pinch Wednesday morning, Smithhart realized that sometimes, the dreams that take the longest to come true are the ones that are most worth the wait.
