Dr. Yoder on History, Hoops, and the Heart of Great Teaching
In Episode 32 of The Late Start Show, Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with beloved history teacher, basketball coach, and published scholar Dr. Tyler Yoder. From the basketball court to the humanities classroom, Dr. Yoder shares his extraordinary journey, from defending his undergraduate thesis under his father’s sharp questions to earning a PhD in ancient languages and translating cuneiform tablets discarded by pharaohs.
Dr. Yoder reflects on what it means to teach with intention, the power of asking hard questions, and the challenges of balancing coaching, writing, and fatherhood. He opens up about his life as a student-athlete, the joy of coaching middle school basketball, whether going undefeated or grinding through tough seasons, and the lessons learned from both victory and defeat. This episode is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation on legacy, curiosity, and the enduring pursuit of knowledge.
Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.
Dr. Tyler Yoder serves as an Upper School History Teacher and Middle School Basketball Coach at University School. He joined the University School faculty in 2021, contributing his knowledge of history and experience in athletics to the school community. Dr. Yoder holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, an M.A. from Trinity International University, and a B.A. from Cedarville University. He is also a published scholar whose research encompasses biblical studies and ancient languages, including work on cuneiform tablets.