During his 24-year tenure as the head men’s and women’s coach at Tyler Junior College, Peterson won a combined 25 national championships (12 men’s, 13 women’s) and amassed a total career record of 828-189 (.814). Peterson served as the Tyler Junior College Athletic Director from 1995-2000 and also served on the ITA Board as a Junior College representative. Peterson is a member of the NJCAA Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame, the NJCAA Women’s Tennis Hall of Fame, and is a 2007 inductee of the Texas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2000, the ITA named Coach Peterson the Junior College National Coach of the Decade, the only coach named Coach of the Decade in both the men’s and women’s division.

Prior to coaching the men’s and women’s tennis programs at Tyler, Peterson taught physical education and coached football, track, and eventually tennis at the middle and high school levels. Peterson attributes his success to his wife, kids and grandchildren.