Two of Hopkinsville’s most familiar faces—cousins Tonio Williams (basketball) and DC Coleman (football)—sit down with host Jacob Ezell in Episode 4 of Tigers Now, Tigers Then, Tigers Forever. What unfolds isn’t just another conversation; it’s a blueprint for how Tigers carry themselves in a year when every moment is the “last” for Hopkinsville High School.
On the mic and in the room, you feel the heartbeat of a program built on reps, resilience, and relationships.
“Be a practice player”
Williams and Coleman don’t romanticize game day. They credit the grind you don’t see—film, walkthroughs, conditioning, and the hundreds of snaps and possessions that never make a highlight reel. Their message to current Tigers is direct: show up at practice like it’s Friday night. Cruise through a drill and you only cheat tomorrow’s version of yourself.
That mentality didn’t arrive by accident. Coleman, who battled for his role as a junior, explains how competing every day forged leadership—whether he was on the first unit, second unit, or scout. That steady drumbeat showed up late in the season when Hopkinsville stacked statement moments, including a road win at Paducah Tilghman and a dramatic comeback at Franklin-Simpson. The lessons were tactical (change your reads, adjust your fits) and personal (trust the call, trust your teammates, then go finish the job).
Strength room swagger, court-side growth
If you know Coleman, you’ve heard the weight-room stories. The numbers mattered less than the standard: earn it under the bar, carry it to the field. That workmanlike posture mirrored Williams’ evolution on the hardwood. Since graduating, Tonio has re-tooled his jumper—quicker release, better balance—while growing his perimeter game and rebounding against bigger bodies. He talks about repetition without shortcuts and how small technical fixes open up an entire offense.
The adults who invest
Ask either athlete how they got here and they’ll point to people. Williams lights up when he mentions HHS athletics leadership that treated him like family and still checks in. Coleman nods to teachers and staff who gave him space to belong, to cool down, to reset—little moments that became lifelines. And while the show shares a few sideline stories, the takeaway is simple: great programs are relationship programs. Schemes and sets matter. People matter more.
For seniors living the “lasts”
This is the final lap for Hopkinsville High School. Last first day. Last home opener. Last bus ride to a favorite rival. Ezell doesn’t run from the emotion—he leans into it, challenging students to wear orange and black with intention. If you’re an athlete, compete like you’ll never wear that jersey again. If you’re a classmate, fill the stands, bring the noise, and let this senior class feel what it means to be a Tiger.
Williams frames it as a privilege: be proud to be the last class. Coleman adds the practical playbook—balance fun with purpose, build study habits now, and if faith anchors you, keep it centered when the schedule gets real.
Why this episode belongs on your playlist
It’s part memory lane, part masterclass, and part locker-room speech. You’ll hear about mid-game adjustments that flipped outcomes, weight-room wins that built belief, and offseason reps that turned a mid-range scorer into a true three-level threat. More than anything, you’ll hear two young men insisting that legacy isn’t what you talk about—it’s what you do daily.
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