Don Yaeger
{{short description|American author}}
{{Infobox writer
|image = Don Yaeger.jpg
|caption = Don Yaeger
|alt =
|pseudonym = Don Yaeger
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date|1962|12|24}}{{cite web |title=Yaeger, Don |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/yaeger-don-1962 |website=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=28 January 2025}}
|birth_place = Hilo, Hawaii
|death_date =
|death_place =
|spouse =
|children =
|nationality = American
|occupation = Author
|period =
|genre = non-fiction, sports, history
|notableworks = {{plainlist| Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History
Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton}}
|website = {{URL|https://donyaeger.com/}}
}}
Don Yaeger (born December 24, 1962) is an American author and public speaker. He is an NSA-Certified Speaking Professional and eSpeakers-Certified Virtual Speaker.{{cite web |last1=Yaeger |first1=Don |title=Don Yaeger Profile - National Speakers Association |url=https://www.espeakers.com/s/nsas/profile/7893?btsc=1 |website=Don Yaeger at National Speakers Association |publisher=eSpeakers.com |access-date=10 November 2021}} He has authored and co-authored 30 books, including 12 New York Times best-sellers.{{cite web |last1=Yaeger |first1=Don |title=Don Yaeger Official Publisher Page |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/44928/don-yaeger |website=Simon & Schuster, Inc. |access-date=10 November 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Yaeger |first1=Don |title=Don Yaeger - Penguin Random House |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/44928/don-yaeger |website=Penguin Random House |publisher=Penguin Random House Network |access-date=10 November 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Yaeger |first1=Don |title=Author - HarperCollins Christian Publishing |url=https://www.harpercollinschristian.com/author/3362/don-yaeger/ |website=HarperCollins Christian Publishing |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |access-date=10 November 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Yaeger |first1=Don |title=Books by Don Yaeger (Author of It's Not About The Truth) |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4608.Don_Yaeger |website=Goodreads |publisher=Goodreads, Inc. |access-date=10 November 2021}}
Yaeger graduated from Ball State University in 1984.{{cite web |title=Author and journalist Don Yaeger to speak about leadership at Ball State on October 21 |url=https://www.bsu.edu/news/press-center/archives/2019/10/author-and-journalist-don-yaeger-to-speak-about-leadership-at-ball-state-on-october-21 |publisher=Ball State University |access-date=11 November 2021}} He worked as a reporter for the San Antonio Light from 1984 to 1985, as a reporter and Capitol Bureau Chief for the Dallas Morning News from 1986 to 1990, and as writer and Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated from 1996 to 2008.{{cite web |title=Yaeger, Don 1962- |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/yaeger-don-1962 |website=Yaeger, Don 1962- Encyclopedia.com |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=11 November 2021}}
Writing
Yaeger co-authored the autobiography of Pro-Football Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton,{{cite web |last1=Payton |first1=Walter |title=Walter Payton - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/walter-payton/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame}} [https://www.amazon.com/Never-Die-Easy-Autobiography-Walter/dp/0375758216/ref=sr_1_1 Never Die Easy]. He has co-authored with other notable sports figures such as former UCLA head basketball coach John Wooden,{{cite book |last1=Wooden |first1=John |title=A Game Plan for Life: The Power of Mentoring - John Wooden, Don Yaeger |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gbyz9qvT0NgC |date=14 October 2009 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=9781608191178 |access-date=10 November 2021}} MLB Chicago Cubs Manager David Ross,{{cite book |title=Teammate by David Ross|url=https://www.hachettebooks.com/titles/david-ross/teammate/9780316559447/ |date=27 June 2017 |publisher=Hachette Book Group |isbn=9780316559447 |access-date=11 November 2021}} former NFL Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher,{{cite book |title=I Beat The Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SwxBp5znFxYC |isbn = 9781101560037|access-date=11 November 2021|last1 = Oher|first1 = Michael|date = 7 February 2012| publisher=Penguin }} and Masters Tournament champion Bubba Watson.{{cite web |title=Up and Down |url=https://www.thomasnelson.com/9780785292043/up-and-down/ |website=Thomas Nelson |publisher=HarperCollins Christian Publishing}}
Yaeger co-authored, with former Duke University lacrosse head coach Mike Pressler, [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Its-Not-About-the-Truth/Don-Yaeger/9781416551492 It's Not About The Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Case and the Lives it Shattered],{{cite news |title=Hardover Nonfiction - New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/books/bestseller/0708besthardnonfiction.html |access-date=10 November 2021 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630014239/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/books/bestseller/0708besthardnonfiction.html |archive-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{cite book |title=It's Not About the Truth - Book by Don Yaeger, Mike Pressler - Official Publisher Page - Simon & Schuster |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Its-Not-About-the-Truth/Don-Yaeger/9781416551492 |date=3 June 2008 |publisher=Simon & Schuster, Inc.|isbn=9781416551492 }} which accounts for events during the 2006 Duke lacrosse case.
Yaeger co-authored, with Brian Kilmeade of Fox News, [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/314007/george-washingtons-secret-six-by-brian-kilmeade-and-don-yaeger/ George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution],{{cite web |title=George Washington's Secret Six by Brian Kilmeade, Don Yaeger - 9781595231109 - PenguinRandomHouse.com - Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/314007/george-washingtons-secret-six-by-brian-kilmeade-and-don-yaeger/ |website=Penguin Random House |publisher=Penguin Random House Network |access-date=11 November 2021}} [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318384/thomas-jefferson-and-the-tripoli-pirates-by-brian-kilmeade-and-don-yaeger/ Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History],{{cite web |title=Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade, Don Yaeger - 9780143129431 - PenguinRandomHouse.com - Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318384/thomas-jefferson-and-the-tripoli-pirates-by-brian-kilmeade-and-don-yaeger/ |website=Penguin Random House |publisher=Penguin Random House Network |access-date=11 November 2021}} and [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/546654/andrew-jackson-and-the-miracle-of-new-orleans-by-brian-kilmeade-and-don-yaeger/ Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle That Shaped America's Destiny].{{cite web |title=Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans by Brian Kilmeade, Don Yaeger - 9780735213241 - PenguinRandomHouse.com - Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/546654/andrew-jackson-and-the-miracle-of-new-orleans-by-brian-kilmeade-and-don-yaeger/ |website=Penguin Random House |publisher=Penguin Random House Network |access-date=11 November 2021}}
Media
Yaeger also hosts the "Corporate Competitor Podcast" which focuses on how successful business leaders learned lessons from sports. Guests have included former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, CEOs of Disney, Delta Airlines, Bank of America, Hendrick Motorsports, KPMG, FanDuel, Chick-fil-A, Insight Enterprises, TopGolf, Mayo Clinic, BET Media and Ritz Carlton.
Personal life
Don Yaeger resides in Tallahassee, Florida with his wife and two children.{{cite web | url=https://donyaeger.com/about/ | title=About Don Yaeger }}
Publications
- Under the Tarnished Dome: How Notre Dame Betrayed its Ideals for Football Glory (Simon & Schuster, 1993, with Douglas S Looney, {{ISBN|0671869507}}) {{cite news |title=BEST SELLERS: October 3, 1993 - The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/03/books/best-sellers-october-3-1993.html |access-date=10 November 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=3 October 1993 }}
- Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton (Villard, 2000, with Walter Payton, {{ISBN|0679463313}}) {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/00/09/24/bsp/index.html|title=Bestsellers|website=www.nytimes.com}}
- Ya Gotta Believe: My Roller-Coaster Life As a Screwball Pitcher and Part-Time Father, and My Hope Filled Fight Against Brain Cancer (New American Library, 2004, with Tug McGraw, {{ISBN|0451212584}}) {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/07/books/bestseller/0307besthardnonfiction.html|title=BEST SELLERS: March 7, 2004|work=The New York Times |date=7 March 2004 }}
- It's Not About the Truth: The Untold Story of the Duke Lacrosse Scandal and the Lives it Shattered (2007) {{cite news |title=Hardover Nonfiction - New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/books/bestseller/0708besthardnonfiction.html |access-date=10 November 2021 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630014239/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/books/bestseller/0708besthardnonfiction.html |archive-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}
- I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to the Blind Side, and Beyond (Gotham Books, 2011, with Michael Oher, {{ISBN|1592406122}}) {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2011-03-06/hardcover-nonfiction/list.html?date=2011-03-06&category=hardcover-nonfiction&pagewanted=print|title=Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers|date=March 6, 2011|work=The New York Times}}
- Play it Like You Mean it: Passion, Laughs, and Leadership in the World's Most Beautiful Game (Don Yaeger with Rex Ryan, 2011, {{ISBN|9780385534444}})
- Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain: How I Went From Gang Member to Multimillionaire Entrepreneur (Portfolio/Penguin, 2011, with Ryan Blair, {{ISBN|9781591844037}})
- George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution (Sentinel, 2013, Don Yaeger with Brian Kilmeade, {{ISBN|9781595231031}}){{cite book |title=George Washington's Secret Six (Young Readers Adaptation) - Brian Kilmeade |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EwaCDwAAQBAJ |isbn = 9780425288986|last1 = Kilmeade|first1 = Brian|last2 = Yaeger|first2 = Don|year = 2019| publisher=Penguin }}
- Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History (Sentinel, 2015, Don Yaeger with Brian Kilmeade, {{ISBN|1591848067}}) {{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2015-12-27/hardcover-nonfiction/list.html|title=Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - December 27, 2015 - The New York Times|work=The New York Times }}
- Tarnished Heisman: Did Reggie Bush Turn His Final College Season into a Six-Figure Job? (2008)
- Great Teams: 16 Things High Performing Organizations Do Differently {{Cite book|last=Yaeger|first=Don|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qRfxCgAAQBAJ|title=Great Teams: 16 Things High Performing Organizations Do Differently|date=2016-07-19|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-0-7180-8057-0|language=en}}
- Greatness : The 16 Characteristics of True Champions{{Cite book|last=Yaeger|first=Don|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rQM2AQAAQBAJ|title=Greatness: The 16 Characteristics of True Champions|date=2011-10-24|publisher=Center Street|isbn=978-0-89296-857-2|language=en}}
- 1% Better {{Cite web|title=1% Better|url=https://www.harpercollinschristian.com/9780785256182/1-better|access-date=2021-08-30|website=HarperCollins Christian Publishing|language=en-US |ref=16}}
- Best Seat in the House: 18 Golden Lessons from a Father to His Son {{Cite web|title=Best Seat in the House: 18 Golden Lessons from a Father to His Son (Hardcover) {{!}} Books 'N' More|url=https://booksnmore.indielite.org/book/9780785248361|access-date=2021-08-30|website=booksnmore.indielite.org|language=en |ref=17}}{{Cite web|last=Jean-Philippe|first=McKenzie|date=2021-06-01|title=The Best Books to Give Dad on Father's Day|url=https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/g27408198/books-for-dad/|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Oprah Daily|language=en-US}}
- You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For (Don Yaeger with Kyle Carpenter, 2019) {{Cite news|title=Are You Worth It Review|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/a-decorated-marine-badly-injured-in-afghanistan-shares-his-hard-road-to-recovery/2019/10/31/d2393d62-f659-11e9-ad8b-85e2aa00b5ce_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post}}{{Cite web|title=You Are Worth It|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/you-are-worth-it-kyle-carpenterdon-yaeger|access-date=2021-09-10|website=HarperCollins|language=en}}
- Banana Ball with Jesse Cole (Dutton (May 16, 2023, ASIN: B0B9WPBY5K )
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yaeger, Don}}
Category:20th-century American male writers
Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers
Category:21st-century American male writers
Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers
Category:American male non-fiction writers
Category:American political journalists
Category:American sports journalists