A native of Bath, Pennsylvania, Tyler is a 2010 graduate of Penn State University, where he capped off his collegiate career as a NCAA 10k All-American, finishing 12th overall and 5th among Americans. His 10k personal best of 29:15 came at the 2010 Big Ten Championships.  As an emerging professional, Tyler ran 46:04 at the Boilermaker 15k and a 1:05:01 at the San Francisco 2nd Half Marathon.

Tyler subsequently qualified for the Olympic Trials in his debut marathon at the 2010 California International Marathon, where he ran 2:17:22. He will continue his elite career in Boulder, Colorado where he is coached by Brad Hudson and is sponsored by Mizuno.