Don Yaeger

Don Yaeger is an American sports journalist.

Don Yaeger

Early career

Don Yaeger graduated in 1984 from Ball State University with a BS in Journalism and History. He then began his career in San Antonio, Texas reporting for the San Antonio Light and writing investigative features for the daily. He later relocated to Dallas, Texas and reported for the Dallas Morning News. Following his time in Dallas, Yaeger became the political editor of the Florida Times-Union from 1986-1990. Throughout his early career, he covered a broad range of topics, some even taking him on the campaign trail of the 1988 Presidential election and to Afghanistan alongside the Mujahadeen for a seven-week period.^[1]

Time at Sports Illustrated

In July 1996, Yaeger joined the Sports Illustrated staff as a full-time writer and was promoted to Associate Editor of the magazine just two years later. He then worked to cover not only sporting events on the field, but also any happenings off of the field that would affect the industry as a whole. During his time at Sports Illustrated, he covered many of the magazine’s groundbreaking stories such as the first national investigation of the use of steroids in baseball ^[2] and the horrific efforts of Saddam Hussein’s son in shaping the Iraqi Olympic Committee.^[3] Yaeger also gained national recognition in an article he co-authored with William Nack entitled "Who’s Coaching Your Kid?: The Frightening Truth About Child Molestation in Youth Sports.”^[4] The popularity of the article landed Yaeger and Nack as finalists for a National Magazine Award in 2000.^[5] Don Yaeger retired from his full-time position at Sports Illustrated in 2008, but continues to freelance for the magazine.

New York Times Best-Sellers

Don Yaeger has written eight books that have appeared on the New York Time Best-Sellers list.

1. Under the Tarnished Dome: How Notre Dame Betrayed its Ideals for Football Glory ⁽¹⁹⁹³⁾: October 1993 ^[6]
2. Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton ⁽²⁰⁰⁰⁾: October 2000 ^[7]
3. Ya Gotta Believe: My Roller-Coaster Life As a Screwball Pitcher and Part-Time Father, and My Hope Filled Fight Against Brain Cancer ⁽²⁰⁰⁴⁾: March 2004 ^[8]
4. It’s Not About the Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Scandal and the Lives it Shattered ⁽²⁰⁰⁷⁾: July 2007 ^[9]
5. I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to the Blind Side, and Beyond ⁽²⁰¹¹⁾: February, March, April 2011 ^[10]
6. Play it Like You Mean it: Passion, Laughs, and Leadership in the World’s Most Beautiful Game ⁽²⁰¹¹⁾: May 2011 ^[11]
7. Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain: How I Went From Gang Member to Multimillionaire Entrepreneur ⁽²⁰¹¹⁾: August, September: 2011; April, May, June: 2013 ^[12]
8. George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution 2013