Hard work doesn't bother energetic Coach Peterson
If there's only one person in Prather Coliseum, at any given hour on any given day, it's most likely Joe Peterson.
In his second year on the Demon basketball staff, Peterson has earned the admiration of his fellow coaches for his work ethic, organizational skills and basketball expertise.
While handling a wide array of responsibilities, including scouting, video services, underclass recruiting, preseason conditioning, equipment, camps, clinics and on-floor coaching, Peterson's trademark is his ever-present smile.
If he's not in the coliseum and the Demons aren't on the road, he is either in class, finishing work on his master's degree in sport administration; he could be in the stands at another Northwestern athletic event; he might be at the Baptist Student Union, or involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (he is the faculty advisor for the NSU chapter).
Whatever the location, Peterson is sure to be with friends who have quickly learned to enjoy his warmth, sincerity and dry sense of humor.
His workload got bigger early in his first season when he was promoted to fill an unexpected vacancy, leaving him handling two jobs at once.
Peterson was an NAIA All-American guard at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. As a senior, Peterson averaged 17 points and 5.5 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field, 42 percent on 3-pointers and 82 percent on free throws. He had the highest scoring game of his basketball career, at all levels, with 33 points.
He was team captain, a three-time Frontier Conference Player of the week and a first-team all-conference pick, and named the school's senior male student-athlete of the year. He also was named an All-American Scholar Athlete.
Peterson traveled in 19987 abd 1998 with Athletes in Action to Brazil, Peru, Sweden and Poland to play basketball and do missionary work.
"It was a great experience for me," he said. "It helped me grow as a person, as a coach, and as a Christian, and it game me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of may people."
Traveling to foreign lands also opened his eyes about life in the United States.
"It definitely makes you realize what you take for granted living in the USA, and what a blessed life we have here in our country," he said. "There are wonderful people every place, but the quality of life in America is significantly better than in much of the rest of the world."
Peterson proudly displays photos from his international travels in his meticulously organized office at Northwestern.
He lists "Politically Incorrect" as his favorite TV show.
He graduated from Lake Havasu (Ariz.) High School, where he was an all-state guard in 1994.
He helped his team win the conference and conference tournament titles along with division and regional crowns as a senior.
His Family: Coach Peterson, who is single, is 24 and the son of Don and Betty Peterson of Hemet, California, located south of Los Angeles. He has three older brothers, Dave (computer programmer), Steve (salesman) and Sam (accountant).
