July 6, 2012

2012 Coaching Changes  

Peterson retires after 25 years at Middle Tennessee

Steve Peterson (right), head coach at Middle Tennessee for the past 25 seasons, has decided to retire, effective immediately.

Associate head coach Jim McGuire, who has worked with Peterson for the past 20 years, will serve as interim head coach during the search for a successor.

Peterson posted 791 victories with the Blue Raiders, leading MTSU to 11 regular season conference titles, nine conference tournament crowns and nine NCAA regional appearances. The Blue Raiders reached 30 or more wins in 16 seasons and four times got to 40 victories. The 2009 squad went 44-18, the most wins in program history.

There have been eight conference players of the year and 10 All-Americans for the Blue Raiders under Peterson. There have been 60 players who signed professional contracts, including Dewon Brazelton, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2001 MLB Draft.

Peterson is a member of several Halls of Fame, including the Rutherford County Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame, Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Huntsville-Madison County (Ala.) Athletic Hall of Fame and Blue Raider Hall of Fame

Peterson was named Coach of the Year three times. His overall record is 944-733-3, including 791-637-3 at MTSU.

A native of Huntsville, Ala., Peterson was a catcher for Rudy Abbott at Jacksonville State. He received a bachelor’s degree from JSU in 1973 and earned a master’s degree from MTSU in 1977.

After serving as an assistant coach for the Blue Raiders from 1976-78, Peterson was head coach at Roane State Community College From 1979-84. He returned to MTSU as an assistant from 1985-87 before taking over as head coach in 1988.

Peterson and his wife, Rita, have three children and six grandchildren.

(photo courtesy of MTSU Media Relations Office)