Tyler graduated from Sterling High School in 2000. He excelled in both football and track and received four varsity awards in each sport. In football, Tyler was selected to the NCIC All-Conference team both his junior and senior years. He also was named the team's Most Valuable Player his senior year and was a captain for the Warriors. His prowess as a quarterback and kicker led Tyler to a record for most points scored by one player in Sterling Warrior history (253). He finished his SHS football career with 1,976 career passing yards. With Tyler as quarterback, the 1999 Golden Warrior football team played in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. He received an All-State honorable mention by the Chicago Sun-Times. In his track career, Tyler set school records in the 110-yard high hurdles (14.5 seconds) and the 300-yard low hurdles (38.6 seconds). Tyler also owns the NCIC record for the 300-yard hurdle event. He served as a captain for the 2000 team and was a versatile performer who also successfully competed in the pole vault. He was a 4-time conference champion and a 3-time state qualifier in the pole vault. At the IHSA state meet, he finished 10th in the pole vault his senior year and 12th in the 300-yard hurdles. Tyler continued to compete in football at Iowa State University where the 2000 team was ranked 25th in the nation. He then competed in both football and track at Illinois State University. There, Tyler and his ISU teammates were ranked 21st in the nation in the distance medley relay. Also, as a collegiate athlete, he reached 16 feet as a pole-vaulter and ran 46.8 seconds in the 400-meter dash. He graduated from ISU in 2004. Currently, Tyler lives in Sterling and teaches social studies at Sterling High School, where he serves as the head girls track coach. His wife, Kaileen, also works at SHS as a counselor, and they have two kids.