Brad Peterson enters into his firstyearas the head men's cross country and track and field coach at Friends University.Before Friends University, Coach Peterson served as the head coach at Indiana Tech University (Fort Wayne, Ind.) for both the men and women track and cross country teams.He started the cross country and track programs from scratch and built a top 10 national team in just two years from 2006 to 2008. The men's cross country team finished fifth and the women's team finished seventh at nationals in 2008. He coached Alissa McKaig to the national championship for cross country in 2008 and also coached her to three different national titles in track, the 5k indoors and the 5k and 10k outdoors.McKaig holds the NAIA national record in every event that she won.He also coached Rod Waters to the national title in the 110 hurdles at track nationals in 2008. Other track All Americans coached were Kesonn Lee in the 60 meter dash and Derrick Brinkley in the 600 meters.In cross country, Peterson coached Camron Walter to All American finishes in both 2007 and 2008 as he finished 20th in 2007 and seventh in 2008 as a sophomore.Peterson was named the WHAC conference coach of the year in both 2007 and 2008.
Before Indiana Tech, Peterson was the men and women's track and cross country coach at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, where he coached 12 state champions in the one class Indiana state championship meet.The highlights ofConcordia were coaching Alissa McKaig to a 4:49 mile and 10:29 2mile, Adele Mitchell to a 4:56 mile and 10:46 2mile, Amber Williams to a 14.30 100 hurdles, Christina Whitt 24.40 200 meters, Joy Eloms 11.92 100 meters.In cross country, Peterson became the first coach in state history to coach back to back different athletes to state titles in cross country in Alissa McKaig and then Adele Mitchell in 2003 then 2004.
Before Concordia High School, Peterson was an assistant coach at Northrop High School under his dad.Here, Peterson coached Brett Tipton to a 1:49 800 meter and a national title, and also two state titles in the mile.Peterson was the first coach in state history to coach a one-two finish in the mile from the same team in Tipton and Nathan Peffley as they ran 4:14 and 4:16 respectively.He also coached Talia Barwick to a state title in the 800 meters with a time of 2:14.66.
Peterson was born and raised in Fort Wayne, where his parents, Barrie and Judy still reside.He has two brothers, Mike and Jeff, who are both married.He has two nieces and three nephews.He graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School and Ball State University, where he received a bachelor of science in English education and physical education.He also earned his master's degree in administration from Indiana University.
