The Clayton State University men’s soccer program replaced one national championship winning head coach with another national championship winning head coach in the spring of 2004, hiring Harry Frederick "Pete" Petersen its new coach. Petersen began the 2004 season as Clayton State's fifth head men’s soccer coach in program history, taking over the helm of the NCAA Division II soccer program after former head coach John Rootes resigned.

Petersen didn’t waste any time making his mark at Clayton State, leading the Lakers to the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA Division II National Championships. Clayton State finished with a 12-4-4 record and was ranked 15th in the country in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

The Lakers proved the first season of the Peterson reign was no fluke. Clayton State followed up in 2005 with an overall 13-4-4 mark and swept both the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships. Although the Lakers dropped a tough 1-0 decision to Lander in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, Clayton State finished eighth in the Division II Top 25.

Last season, playing arguably one of the toughest schedules in Division II, Petersen paced the Lakers to a 10-9 overall mark and a share of a second straight Peach Belt Conference regular season championship.

Overall, Peterson is 35-17-8 in his three seasons at Clayton State. That includes a 13-4-2 mark in Peach Belt Conference play and 23-6-3 in Region play. He's produced three All-Americans, 10 All-Region selections and 12 All-Peach Belt Conference players.

Prior to the 2004 season, Petersen most recently served as the Director of Coaching for the Norcross (GA) Soccer Association, overseeing approximately 1,400 players. Before his three years at Norcross, he served for seven years in the professional ranks, working as a general manager, head coach and president of four professional soccer teams (South Carolina Shamrocks, Jacksonville Cyclones, Raleigh Express and Atlanta Silverbacks). He had a record of 46-44-1 in the United Soccer Leagues.

Petersen was president of the Atlanta Silverbacks of the A-League from 2000-01 and helped lead the franchise to the playoffs, its first appearance in six years. The franchise also received the 2001 Most Improved Club Peer-Rating award and excelled in developing community programs such as a Hispanic Outreach, Super Y Youth teams and local professional camps. 

His collegiate background includes eight years of head coaching experience, of which, six came as a head coach at Spartanburg Methodist College where he compiled an impressive 79-28-6 mark. His top season came in 1994, leading the Spartanburg Methodist squad to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship. He was also named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Coach of the Year that same season.

In addition to his time at both Clayton State and Spartanburg Methodist, Petersen was also an assistant for two seasons at NCAA Division I Davidson and one season at his Alma Mater, Presbyterian.

Professionally, Petersen, a United State Soccer Federation (USSF) "A" License and NSCAA "Premier" certified coach, has coached 10 national team members, both U.S. and non-U.S. players, three U.S. Olympic team members, 11 major league professional players, five A-League All-Stars and one Rookie of the Year.

A standout player at Presbyterian, Petersen received his Bachelor of Science degree in History from Presbyterian in 1985, and his Master's degree in Sports Science from the United States Sports Academy in 1989. As a player at Presbyterian, Petersen is currently ranked sixth all-time in goals scored for the Blue Hose. He was a two-time NAIA All-Region selection and an NAIA and NSCAA All-American selection as a senior.

The son of missionary parents, Petersen grew up in West Africa (Ghana and Nigeria) from 1967-1981. He served as a Platoon Leader with the 82^nd Airborne Division in the United States Army, Ft. Bragg, N.C., from 1985 to 1988.

Petersen and his wife, Mona, are parents of a daughter, Priscilla.