Derek Smith. Photo credit Amy Deroche/OJHL Images
A coaching transition is underway resulting in the departure of the Trenton Golden Hawks’ head coach Derek Smith and assistant coach Tyler Longo.
The Trenton Golden Hawks organization announced plans for a “new era” and staffing changes for the 2026-27 season in a recent release.
“As the club moves in a new direction, it does so with a profound sense of gratitude for departing head coach Derek Smith and assistant Coach Tyler Longo,” reads the release. “For the past three seasons, Derek and Tyler have been more than just the voices behind the bench – they have been pillars of the Golden Hawks family.”
The club also noted that during the duo’s coaching tenure, Smith and Longo overseen “one of the most successful stretches in recent franchise history, including this past season’s historic 92-point campaign.”
Last season, the team also secured the Buckland Cup.
“Derek and Tyler are local people who truly care about the heartbeat of Trenton hockey,” said Tracey Legault-Davis, director of business operations, adding they didn’t just show up for practices games, but helped with PA Day camps, countless fundraisers, mentorship, and more, all while maintaining an open-door policy. “… They didn’t just coach a team – they supported the entire staff around them, and for that, we are all thankful.”
The duo is credited with helping lay an “incredible foundation” for the club over the past three years. But the club also said it’s keeping an eye on the horizon, and the junior hockey world has seen “seismic shifts recently, particularly regarding NCAA eligibility and the evolving relationship with the OHL.”
In other words, the OJHL landscape isn’t the same as it was two years ago, and the organization said it has responsibility to players, fans and sponsors to be at the forefront of these changes.
“We are moving in a new direction that prioritizes a modern scouting and development philosophy, while maintaining the fiscal responsibility necessary to keep this franchise thriving for decades to come,” reads the organization’s release.
The “new era” for the Hawks will mean navigating financial and developmental realities of the sport and being proactive to ensure continued gold-standard player advancement and championship-calibre entertainment, stated the organization.
The search for new coaching staff has started and further announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
