As a player, Hyder lettered in baseball, basketball, track, and cross country at Georgia Tech.[1] After graduating in 1937 he spent three years playing in the New York Yankees' minor league baseball system.[1][3] Hyder served in the United States Navy in World War II before returning to Georgia Tech as an assistant men's basketball coach in 1946.[1] In 1951, he was promoted to head coach where he remained until 1973.[1]