Steve Yoder
Encyclopedia
Steve Yoder is an American former college basketball
coach and is currently a scout with the NBA's New York Knicks
.
and 1958 graduate of Plymouth High School. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University
on a basketball and baseball scholarship, winning four letters in baseball and two in basketball before graduating in 1962. He received his master's degree from University of Saint Francis
, then called Saint Francis College, in Fort Wayne, Indiana
in 1970.
junior high school, and in 1965 took an assistant's position in basketball at Plymouth, Indiana. He became head coach at Plymouth in 1967 and proceeded to guide the school to three conference titles, three sectional crowns, a pair of regional titles, and two finishes among the top ten teams in state rankings over a six-year period. Yoder was named Indiana's District One Coach of the Year in 1973 and he then accepted a job as assistant coach at Furman University
. He returned to Indiana in 1975 as head coach at Mishawaka's Penn High School
. He then became assistant basketball coach at Ball State University
in 1976 and a year later became head coach at the school.
Yoder was head coach at Ball State from 1977–78 to 1981–82, compiling a record of 77-62. He was named the Mid-American Conference
Coach of the Year for both the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons. The 1980-81 Ball State team shared the MAC title with three other schools and gained an NCAA tournament berth by winning the conference's post-season tournament. Ball State compiled an overall 17–11 record during the 1981-82 season including a 12–4 conference record that gave them the MAC championship. The Cardinals lost to Northern Illinois University
79–75 in overtime in the MAC post-season tournament title game with the winner advancing to the NCAA meet.
In 1982, he left for University of Wisconsin–Madison
, where he would coach the Badgers until 1992. He compiled a record of 128–165 and led the Badgers to the National Invitation Tournament
in 1988–89 and 1990–91--the Badgers' first postseason appearances in over 40 years. For his accomplishments in coaching the 18–12 NIT team in 1988-89, Yoder was named Kodak District XI Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches
as well as Midwest Coach of the Year by Basketball Times
.
After coaching, he became a scout with the Indiana Pacers
and later the Knicks.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach and is currently a scout with the NBA's New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
Background
Yoder is a native of Plymouth, IndianaPlymouth, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,840 people, 3,838 households, and 2,406 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,414.0 people per square mile . There were 4,100 housing units at an average density of 589.2 per square mile...
and 1958 graduate of Plymouth High School. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
on a basketball and baseball scholarship, winning four letters in baseball and two in basketball before graduating in 1962. He received his master's degree from University of Saint Francis
University of Saint Francis (Indiana)
The University of Saint Francis is a liberal arts university located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, the university promotes Catholic and Franciscan values...
, then called Saint Francis College, in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
in 1970.
Career
He started his coaching career at Glen Ellyn, IllinoisGlen Ellyn, Illinois
Glen Ellyn is an affluent village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the village population was 26,999.-Geography:...
junior high school, and in 1965 took an assistant's position in basketball at Plymouth, Indiana. He became head coach at Plymouth in 1967 and proceeded to guide the school to three conference titles, three sectional crowns, a pair of regional titles, and two finishes among the top ten teams in state rankings over a six-year period. Yoder was named Indiana's District One Coach of the Year in 1973 and he then accepted a job as assistant coach at Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
. He returned to Indiana in 1975 as head coach at Mishawaka's Penn High School
Penn High School
Penn High School is a public high school located just outside of Mishawaka, Indiana, USA, near South Bend. It is the one high school in the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation...
. He then became assistant basketball coach at Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
in 1976 and a year later became head coach at the school.
Yoder was head coach at Ball State from 1977–78 to 1981–82, compiling a record of 77-62. He was named the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
Coach of the Year for both the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons. The 1980-81 Ball State team shared the MAC title with three other schools and gained an NCAA tournament berth by winning the conference's post-season tournament. Ball State compiled an overall 17–11 record during the 1981-82 season including a 12–4 conference record that gave them the MAC championship. The Cardinals lost to Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
79–75 in overtime in the MAC post-season tournament title game with the winner advancing to the NCAA meet.
In 1982, he left for University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, where he would coach the Badgers until 1992. He compiled a record of 128–165 and led the Badgers to the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
in 1988–89 and 1990–91--the Badgers' first postseason appearances in over 40 years. For his accomplishments in coaching the 18–12 NIT team in 1988-89, Yoder was named Kodak District XI Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches
National Association of Basketball Coaches
The National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
as well as Midwest Coach of the Year by Basketball Times
Basketball Times
Basketball Times is an American basketball magazine that has been in circulation since 1978, and is published by The Hoop Group LLC. Basketball Times publishes monthly and mainly focuses on college basketball and basketball recruiting.- History :...
.
After coaching, he became a scout with the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and later the Knicks.