Russell Peterson enters his second season in 2015-16 as assistant coach for the cross country and track and field programs at Western Illinois, coaching a variety of events including middle distance, distance, long hurdles, vertical jumps and the cross country team as well.
In the 2014-15 track and field season several sprinters reached personal-best times in their events thanks to the tutelage of Peterson. He helped guide nine Leathernecks to All-Summit League status, including the school's first men's outdoor 4x100 relay crown since 2004. Peterson assisted in hosting the 2015 Lee Calhoun Invitational while also overseeing many of the efforts in hosting the 2015 Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
During the 2014 cross country season, Peterson oversaw the men's and women's teams and coached 15 out of the 17 athletes to personal-best times. Guiding the program through the start of a rebuild, Peterson led both teams through a six-meet season, concluding with the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
Prior to joining Stevenson's staff, Peterson worked and volunteered at the University of Iowa. During his time on the Hawkeyes coaching staff (2012-14) Peterson assisted current director of cross country/track and field, Joey Woody, by working with sprinters and hurlders. Under Woody's mentorship, Peterson and the Iowa sprinters earned 10 All-American honors and five Big Ten championships. Every event from the 60-meters to the 800-meters, including relays and hurdles, had athletes break into Iowa's all-time 'Top 10'.
Prior to joining the Iowa staff, Peterson spent two seasons on the track and field staff at Colgate (New York) where the program saw its best Patriot League finish ever. While at Colgate, Peterson's athletes broke more than 20 school records and achieved more than 40 all-time 'Top 10' performances, including Curry Knox, who left her mark on Colgate's program with six school records and the Patriot League record in the 100-meters (11.70). The Raiders won 12 league titles and more than 20 conference honors during Peterson's tenure.
Peterson began his coaching career at Augustana College (Sioux Falls) while working towards his master's degree in Education, with an emphasis in athletic administration. During that time, Viking cross country and track field teams established themselves as a power at the conference level as well as across NCAA Division II.
Peterson is a 2004 graduate of the University of Iowa where he competed in track and field, finishing his career on the Iowa all-time list in six different events. He earned six All-Big Ten honors, a Big Ten title in the 4x100 relay and an All-Midwest Regional honor. Peterson qualified for the NCAA National Championships in all eight seasons of indoor and outdoor track and field at Iowa while competing in five events, placing as high as ninth.
In addition to his collegiate career, Peterson made three appearances at the USATF National Championships, including one Olympic Trials in 2004. After graduation, he competed for Competitive Edge Athletics, running in the special invite 400 high hurdles at the 2004 and 2005 Drake Relays.
Peterson is a native of Manteno, Illinois and a graduate of Manteno High School where he was an all-state selection in soccer and track and an Illinois State Champion in the 300-meter hurdles. He finished his senior season as the sixth fastest 300 hurdler in the nation.
