To address the contradiction between low recovery rate caused by large coal pillars and excessive surrounding rock deformation of roadways with small coal pillars under thick and hard rock strata in No.2102 Face of Yingpanhao Mine, a study on the reasonable width of coal pillars and the coordinated support of small coal pillars combined with borehole blasting for pressure relief was carried out using theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and on-site monitoring. The main conclusions were as follows: ①The stability of the arc-shaped triangular block structure directly determined the degree of roadway deformation. As the core carrier supporting the arc-shaped triangular block, the width of the small coal pillar was the key to ensuring roadway safety. ②The reasonable width of the small coal pillar was determined through theoretical analysis and FLAC3D numerical simulation, and the optimal coal pillar width was finally obtained as 5 meters. ③Aiming at the characteristics of large surrounding rock displacement and intense mine pressure behavior in roadways protected by small coal pillars, a "support-pressure relief" coordinated support mechanism was proposed. The stability of roadways protected by small coal pillars was realized by combining active support with borehole blasting for pressure relief. ④Practice had shown that by setting a 5-meter coal pillar, adopting borehole blasting for pressure relief, and matching reasonable support technologies, the displacement of both sides and the roof and floor tended to be stable, and the working face stress did not exceed the early warning value. This had greatly improved the surrounding rock stability of gob-side entry driving with small coal pillars, providing a reference for the safe and efficient mining of coal mines under similar conditions.