Peter Lampman Yoder (March 5, 1940 – January 30, 2006) was an American football coach. A native of Elkhart, Indiana, Yoder moved with his family to Southern California at an early age, settling in the city of Downey. At Downey High School, Yoder became a star quarterback, helping the Vikings to earn back-to-back CIF Southern Section Central Group titles in 1956 and 1957 while earning all-league and all-CIF honors. Following high school, Yoder initially enrolled at the University of Notre Dame, but later withdrew and pursued a bachelor's degree and teaching credential at Long Beach State University. Coaching career Upon graduation, Yoder got his first job teaching social studies and serving as an assistant football coach at Long Beach Poly High School. After two years there, he was hired as a physical education teacher and varsity football head coach at Blair High School in Pasadena, California. Following a winless season in 1965 during which he guided a team with no seniors, Yoder's Vikings rebounded by going 10-1 his second year, reaching the CIF-SS 4-A Division quarterfinal. Three years later, Blair completed an undefeated season by beating Bishop Amat 28-27 in the 4-A Division championship game. That 13-0 team featured "The Blair Pair" of running backs Jim McAlister and Kermit Johnson which scored 580 points--nearly 45 points a game.
Yoder then left Blair High School in 1970 to serve as a running backs coach at the University of Southern California (USC) under head coach John McKay. After two seasons with the Trojans, Yoder accepted the head coaching position at California State University, Fullerton, where he compiled an 18–15 record in three seasons (1972–1974).
Returning to the high school level, Yoder became varsity football head coach at Esperanza High School in Anaheim, California, while also teaching PE and history. Under Yoder's leadership, the Aztecs made the CIF playoffs for the first time and would go on to reach the postseason in every season that Yoder coached them. In 1979, Yoder earned his second CIF Southern Section football championship as he led Esperanza to an 11-3 record that ended with a 14-7 win over San Clemente to clinch the Central Conference title. Yoder's Esperanza teams would finish as conference runners-up in 1980, 1982, and 1984, and he stepped down following the 1985 season with an 11-year record of 99 wins, 34 losses, and four ties.
Yoder never coached again and continued his career in education as an administrator in the Tustin Unified School District before retiring in 1999. He died of brain cancer on January 30, 2006, in Austin, Texas.
Head coaching record College
High School Year Team Regular Season PostseasonWon LostTiesWin %Finish Result 1965Blair0908th in Foothill Leaguedid not qualify1966Blair10101st in Foothill LeagueCIF-SS 4-A Division Quarterfinalists 1967Blair720T-2nd in Foothill Leaguedid not qualify1968Blair7112nd in Foothill Leaguedid not qualify1969Blair13001st in Foothill LeagueCIF-SS 4-A Division Champions Blair Total371311975Esperanza6403rd in Orange LeagueCIF-SS 2-A Division First Round 1976Esperanza9212nd in Orange LeagueCIF-SS 2-A Division Quarterfinalists 1977Esperanza7323rd in Orange LeagueCIF-SS Central Conference Semifinalists 1978Esperanza9101st in Orange LeagueCIF-SS Central Conference First Round1979Esperanza11302nd Orange LeagueCIF-SS Central Conference Champions 1980Esperanza13101st in Orange LeagueCIF-SS Central Conference Finalists 1981Esperanza940T-3rd in Empire LeagueCIF-SS Southern Conference Semifinalists1982Esperanza12201st in Empire LeagueCIF-SS Southern Conference Finalists 1983Esperanza6613rd in Empire LeagueCIF-SS Southern Conference Semifinalists 1984Esperanza12201st in Empire LeagueCIF-SS Southern Conference Finalists 1985Esperanza5603rd in Empire LeagueCIF-SS Southern Conference First Round Esperanza Total99344.531Total 136 47 5
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