“The most rewarding thing to me is seeing the kids I’ve influenced go on to have bright futures,” said Terence Smith, an educator and basketball, softball, and football coach for the past 19 years and a staple of the Glendale and Milwaukee communities.
“Coach T,” as most refer to him, has had a unique impact on the lives of young people. He believes he has a “gift” for relating to people in the way they need to be seen, one person at a time.
Coach T found his passion for helping others at an early age. He remembers watching his grandmother, Jeanette Robinson, run her own business, career, and youth development center, where she helped guide young people toward brighter futures. Watching lives transform before his eyes, he knew it was a path he was meant to follow.
This gift was especially evident during the early years of his tenure at Nicolet High School. Coach T recalls a young man who was being raised by a single mother while also navigating the challenges of being a young father, attending school, and playing basketball. The pressure was pushing him toward a path Coach T knew was dangerous—and, more importantly, one he might not be able to come back from.
Every day, Coach T made time for him. He gave him rides, provided meals, and became a mentor during one of the most difficult periods of his life. Fast forward to today, and that same young man now owns his own business and recently brought his son back to be coached by Coach T.
“It was a full-circle moment. I swear, that day I had tears in my eyes – tears of happiness.”
Stories like this are not uncommon for Coach T. Many people could spend hours talking about the impact he has had on their lives. But I wanted to know what it takes for someone to be so effective at changing the lives of young people.
“What I want students and athletes to take from me is to have a kind heart. Everyone isn’t happy all the time. You’ve got to see things through, help people when they need it, and always try to be the best version of yourself.”
This mindset has allowed Coach T to be the change Nicolet needed 19 years ago, and continues to need today. When reflecting on his career, he speaks about the importance of holding students and athletes accountable, allowing them to grow and discover who they are, and, of course, being there whenever they need him.
“My approach to students is to read their body language, what they’re saying, how they’re saying it, and what’s going on in their lives. You have to genuinely care if you want to help them work through it.”
Coach T is a humble man who takes pride in the futures he has helped shape as an educator. He is also an accomplished coach who has helped lead Nicolet boys’ basketball to back-to-back state quarterfinal appearances and has positively impacted countless students during his 19 years at Nicolet High School.
When asked what message he hopes to leave for future generations of students, Coach T said this:
“My advice is to listen to your peers, enjoy life, and don’t take any moment for granted. Life isn’t guaranteed, and it goes by faster than you think.”
It was both a pleasure and an honor to interview such an impactful member of our community. I look forward to seeing the thousands of lives Coach T will continue to influence throughout the rest of his educational and coaching journey.
