Feb. 27, 2013 — Gene Peterson has been named head football coach of the KCU Knights football program after serving as an assistant football coach at Kentucky Christian University for the past two years.
Peterson replaces former head coach Mike Furrey, who accepted the position of wide receivers coach at Marshall University.
Coach Peterson has been an integral part of a coaching staff that has developed the Knights program to the point of receiving regional and national recognition.
The Knights finished the 2012 season ranked in the final national top 25 poll in the NAIA (25) for the first time in University history after posting a 7-4 record in the ultra-competitive NAIA Mid-South Conference.
KCU is located on I-64 between Morehead and Ashland. The university completed phase one of an impressive new athletic complex project, installing new synthetic turf, stadium seating, scoreboard and press box.
KCU's President Dr. Jeff Metcalf said, “Whether in the classroom or on the field or court, KCU's mission is to develop Christian leaders. I am grateful for the contributions of Coach Furrey in bringing a young fledgling program to an impressive state of competitiveness, while also ensuring that the program remained Christ-centered.”
He continued:
“I am equally grateful to have a man of Coach Peterson’s Christian character, coupled with a track record of success as both a coach and an educator, to build upon the existing foundation of excellence.
The feeling seems mutual.
“I am very excited to become the head football coach at Kentucky Christian University, and proud to lead a football team that helps promote the University's values of Christ, Character, and Career,” said Coach Peterson.
“With great student-athletes who are working hard for next season, we have the opportunity to build on previous success and develop a premier program. I am very blessed to be surrounded with a great staff, supportive administration, and fantastic student-athletes. We have high expectations from our players and they know through Christian faith, hard work, and perseverance anything can be accomplished,” he said.
KCU's Athletic Director Bruce Dixon notes that, “Very few small colleges are afforded the luxury of deep pools of coaching talent and, having observed for the past two years Coach Peterson’s coaching acumen, rapport with players and their families, and ambition to continue building a dynamic Christ-centered program, I feel equal parts proud and fortunate to be able to turn to a man of Coach Peterson’s proven abilities from within our own staff.”
Dixon continues, “If you look at the pedigree of the football coaching staff, a couple of whom would be legitimate head coaching candidates at KCU or elsewhere, it is telling that the assistant coaches were unanimous in their support of Coach Peterson as the next Head Coach at KCU and committed to maintaining continuity among the coaching staff.”
Coach Peterson, a native of Marion County, has more than 30 years of coaching experience, and enjoyed a 26-year coaching career at Fleming County High School.
During his tenure, his teams earned Eastern Kentucky Conference Championships (01, 04, 06, and 09), district champions (01), and ranked in the top 10 teams in the state (01, 03, 04, 05, 06, and 09). Coach Peterson was Eastern KY Conference Coach of the Year in 2001, 2004 and 2009.
Coach Peterson holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Morehead State University. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Education, Masters in Vocational Education, Elementary Endorsement Grades 1-8, a Rank 1 certificate in Elementary Education, and a Secondary Leadership Certificate. He spent 4 years in the Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician with an F-4 Fighter Squadron. He and his wife, Glenna, have been married for 30 years and have a daughter, Sarah (Corbin), and a son, Jody. They have one granddaughter, Ashton, and one grandson, Denton.
