Russell E. Peterson ( – July 15, 1996) was an American college basketball, football, and baseball coach. He served as a multi-sport coach at American International College and Boston University.
Early life Peterson was born in Brooklyn. He grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he attended the High School of Commerce. He then continued on to Springfield College, where he played football and lacrosse.AIC athletics program builds on storied past, The Republican, March 27, 2011. He graduated as a member of the class of 1932.
Coaching career Peterson began his coaching career as an assistant football coach at the Springfield Trade School. In 1933, American International College president Chester McGown hired Peterson as the school's first athletic director. Peterson established the American International basketball program in 1933, and its football, baseball, and soccer programs in 1934. On October 13, 1939, Peterson coached American International to perhaps its greatest victory, a 7–6 upset of heavy favorites Saint Anselm at Pynchon Park. Trailing 6–0 with 1:30 remaining, American International elected to punt, but the kicker dropped the wet ball, and was forced to run. A block gave tailback Joe O'Grady an opening and he ran 60 yards for a touchdown. Future American International coach Henry Butova kicked the extra point to seal the victory.Richard Bedard continuing tradition of athletic excellence at American International College, MassLive.com, December 24, 2010. Peterson served as both the head football and basketball coach at American International.MacPhail Indicted by Grand Jury on Assault Charges, Daily Boston Globe, November 14, 1945. From 1934 to 1940, his football teams compiled a 16–27–2 record.Russ Peterson Records by Year , College Football Data Warehouse, retrieved June 4, 2011. As the basketball coach from 1933 to 1941, he compiled a 45–59 record.Men's Basketball Year-By-Year Results, American International College, March 13, 2010.
In 1941, he was hired by Boston University as the line coach for its football team and as the freshman coach for its basketball program.New Terrier Line Coach Finding Job Broadening, The Christian Science Monitor, October 1, 1941.Peterson to Trim Terrier Yearlings, The Christian Science Monitor, Nov 29, 1941. In 1943, Boston University also appointed Peterson as its head baseball coach.Around The Hub, The Christian Science Monitor, March 6, 1943. That year, he temporarily left the school to take a commission in the United States Navy as a physical education instructor during World War II.Holmer, Peterson Leave for Service, The Christian Science Monitor, Apr 21, 1943. Peterson returned to BU and served as the head coach of the basketball team from 1945 to 1948 and compiled a 36–18 record.Russ Peterson, Sports Reference, retrieved June 4, 2011. In 1948, he was promoted to the position of freshman football coach.TWO COACHES APPOINTED; Boston University Adds Swenson, Botsford to Football Staff, New York Times, September 10, 1948. In August 1949, Peterson resigned from his posts at BU in order to take an athletic director position at Arlington High School in Arlington, Massachusetts.Peterson Quits B. U. to Become Athletic Head at Arlington, Daily Boston Globe, Aug 18, 1949. In 1953, he took over as head football coach at Springfield Technical High School, where he remained until 1958, when he resigned in order to become athletic director for Springfield, Massachusetts public schools.Tech High School's Chet Boulris was a champ off the field, too, MassLive.com, June 28, 2010.West Springfield and Springfield Tech coach Eddie Mason taught lessons about football, life, MassLive.com, January 26, 2011. He retired in 1970.
Death Peterson died at the age of 89, on July 15, 1996, at a nursing home in Agawam, Massachusetts.
Head coaching record College football
References