FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — Many in Forsyth County are reeling after hearing that former East Forsyth High School Football Special Teams Coach Kenny Yoder passed away, according to Head Coach Todd Willert.
Yoder was the Special Teams Coach helping kickers and punters. He won two state championships in 2018 and 2019. He retired from coaching following the 2019 season.
It is unclear what the cause of Yoder's death was.
Former East Forsyth players, coaches, community members and even rival schools are mourning the sudden passing of Coach Kenny Yoder.
“It shows how much Kenny touched everybody, not just the East Forsyth community,” Coach Willert said.
Yoder served as the special teams coach for East Forsyth High for more than two decades. He began coaching at the school before Willert took over, and the two built a strong bond over the years.
“All three of his kids played football here. Chase, I can remember the day he was born,” Willert said.
Willert said he leaned on Yoder a lot over the years, from helping build a culture to ensuring the team was prepared week in and week out. He noted that Kenny’s influence was everywhere at East Forsyth.
“We’ve had great kickers and punters almost every year. We would have the kicker or punter of the year, and I did nothing,” Willert said. “Kenny did it all. That was his specialty, and he was awesome at it. He really was.”
Michael Lischke’s son, Cameron, was one of the many kids Coach Yoder mentored. Lischke credits Yoder not only with helping his son become the best kicker he could be, but also with molding him into the man he is today.
“I just think it is so critical that young people, however young they are these days, have a Kenny Yoder around,” Lischke said. “To have a Kenny Yoder who kept in contact—he didn’t have to, first of all. He didn’t have to do any of this. This was not his profession. This was out of pure love and passion for the sport.”
Lischke knew that every time his son was at football practice, he had someone to look up to.
“I think it just takes a special individual who doesn’t do this education stuff for a living to take the time and effort after their full day of work,” Lischke said, holding back tears. “He was a hard worker, always rolling and traveling somewhere. For him to prioritize other people’s kids—that’s pretty cool.”
Since Coach Yoder’s passing over the weekend, there has been an outpouring of support on social media. Coach Willert said Yoder’s impact on the community stretched far beyond the football field.
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