In his four seasons at the Laker helm, Petersen has paced Clayton
State to three straight Peach Belt Conference regular season
championships (2005, 2006, 2007), two Peach Belt Conference
Tournament championships (2005, 2007) and three NCAA Division II
National Tournament berths (2004, 2005, 2007). In addition the
Lakers advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Division II National
Tournament in both 2004 and 2005.
Consistently ranked in the Division II Top 25 in Petersen’s
tenure, Clayton State finished 15th in the nation in 2004, 12th in
the nation in 2005 and 22nd in the nation last season.
Overall, Peterson is 49-21-10 in his four seasons at Clayton State,
making him the second-winningest head coach in Laker men’s soccer
history. That includes a 17-5-3 mark in Peach Belt Conference play
and 23-6-3 in Region play. He’s produced four All-Americans, 14
All-Region selections and 17 All-Peach Belt Conference players. On
top of that, Clayton State has had two Peach Belt Conference
Freshman of the Year winners and one Peach Belt Conference Player of
the Year honoree under Petersen.
Petersen himself has also been recognized by the Peach Belt,
winning conference Coach of the Year honors both in 2005 and 2007.
Prior to arriving at Clayton State for the 2004 season, Petersen
most recently served as the Academy Director 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 combined 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.
Petersen’s 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.
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 standout 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. After graduating from
Presbyterian, he served as a Platoon Leader with the 82nd
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.
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