DUSTIN YODER, LAKER NATION CLASS OF 2008,
has spent the majority of his life making a career of what he loves: basketball. From his time spent playing with a basketball and hoop as a child to earning his position as an NCAA Division I assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau, Missouri Yoder has continued to dedicate his talent and love for basketball to those he works with on and off the court. “Basketball has been a part of my life from the very beginning,” Yoder said. “I just grew a love for the game, and that ultimately led to me really wanting to work in the field. I know that having a chance to impact society one student athlete at a time is a reason why I love this field so much, and I get to do it all surrounded by my favorite game.” As a two-year letter winner at Lake Land College under junior college basketball Hall of Fame coach Jim Dudley and Coach Cedric Brown, Yoder said his time at Lake Land changed his perspective on his life and the lives of others. “Initially when I went to Lake Land my goal was just to graduate from college and be a high school coach somewhere in Illinois and maybe teach P.E.” Yoder said. “Lake Land provided my first opportunity to see the world differently. When I started really getting to see a different side of the world, I started to take an oath to helping that age group of men become better men. Giving them all that I can with love and support, teaching and coaching and helping them shape their lives in a
positive direction, I get even more out of that than the basketball itself.”
Amid all the excitement and success, Yoder said his proudest moments are ones when he is able to help a player realize his potential.
Graduating with a degree in physical education, Yoder quickly worked his way up the ladder of “When I get to see a kid who had success from student manager to to come to Division II basketball head manager at the University because he didn’t qualify for of Illinois, then assistant coach at Division I, not because he Parkland College in Champaign. wasn’t good enough or wasn’t Next Yoder talented enough but became just academically “I [TOOK] AN OATH graduate didn’t meet Division TO HELPING...MEN assistant and BECOME BETTER MEN. I standards, start to later video turn a corner and GIVING THEM ALL THAT make something of his coordinator at I CAN WITH LOVE AND academics, over all the Kansas State University. SUPPORT, TEACHING AND games we’ve won, is After that he COACHING AND HELPING probably the number took a position THEM SHAPE THEIR LIVES one thing that stands as assistant out to me the most,” coach at NCAA ...I GET EVEN MORE OUT Yoder said. “These OF THAT THAN THE Division II things kind of outweigh University of the wins and losses. “ BASKETBALL ITSELF.” Texas Permian -YODER Basin and Yoder expressed his finally became gratitude to Lake Land associate head coach at NCAA College for providing a strong Division II college Cal State at foundation for his education and San Bernadino before taking his path to his career. current position at SEMO. “I probably wouldn’t have gotten Yoder has also celebrated many into the University of Illinois out of accomplishments and victories as high school, but with the GPA and a coach. Yoder said he’s had teams the associate degree I was able play everywhere from Brazil and to claim at Lake Land I got in,” Italy to Madison Square Garden. Yoder said. “It’s definitely not high While at Kansas State University, school, but Lake Land provides a Yoder’s team won the Big 12 really nice transition for that next regular season title in 2012-2013. path in your life. My two years at Lake Land were two of the best In his two years at Cal State San years of my life. I cherish the years Bernadino, Yoder helped guide a I had there, because I definitely team, that had not had a winning think that they bettered me and basketball team in 10 years, to made me a better student that I having a winning season in his first needed to be to be able to go to year there. And, in his second year, the University of Illinois and be the team had a record of 21-8 and successful there.” made the NCAA tournament. “I’ve been very lucky and very blessed,” Yoder said. “It’s been a fun ride so far.”
14 LAKE LAND COLLEGE ALUMNI s LAKELANDCOLLEGE.EDU/ALUMNI
