Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football
Sep 20 (Sat)
3:30 p.m.
- Title:
- Asst. Head Coach (Defensive Coord./Linebackers)
Jay Peterson, a former assistant football coach at Northwestern University, is entering his fifth season as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Eastern Michigan University. Beginning in 2007, Peterson also took on the responsibility of assistant head coach.
The 46-year-old Peterson (2-6-62) was an assistant football coach under head coach Randy Walker for 13 seasons prior to joining the EMU football family, the last five at Northwestern and the previous eight at Miami University.
In four years under his tutelage, the EMU defense has improved, from a high of 469.6 yards allowed per game in 2004 to a drop of almost 100 yards in 2006, at 388.3 yards per game.
Under Peterson’s guidance, linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw was tabbed to the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list and the 2008 Rotary Lombardi Award preliminary watch list. Holtzclaw was also named a freshman All-American in 2005 and a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection in 2007. Last year, Holtzclaw finished third in the Mid-American Conference and tied for 21st in the nation with his 125 tackles.
During his tenure at Northwestern (1999-2003), Peterson coached the defensive line his last two seasons and was the linebackers coach for three seasons. Northwestern’s 2001 linebacking group was rated as one of the nation’s best, with two players, Kevin Bentley and Billy Silva, both making the Bronko Nagurski watch list. He also coached Napoleon Harris, who was a first round pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2002.
Prior to his Northwestern stint, Peterson was an assistant coach in charge of linebackers and helped with the special teams at Miami from 1991-98. During his career at Miami, Peterson coached several All-MAC linebackers, including two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year JoJuan Armour. Armour was named a third-team All-America by the Associated Press. Another Peterson pupil, Dustin Cohen, was named third-team All-America by The Football News, along with Armour.
In addition he spent three summers on the NFL Minority Coaching Internship program, at the Indianapolis Colts (1995), the Detroit Lions (1997) and the Chicago Bears (2001). He was also an assistant football coach at three high schools in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, at Cadiz (1985-87), Anderson (1988-89) and Withrow high schools. (1990).
A native of Hopedale, Ohio, Peterson went on to become a standout running back at Miami University. He earned four varsity football letters (1980-83) and was considered one of the top running backs in school history. His career total of 2,874 yards is still fifth on Miami’s all-time list. He was a co-captain as a senior and was a first-team All-MAC selection in 1982, a second-team pick in 1983 and an honorable mention choice in 1981. Peterson graduated from Miami in 1985 with a degree in elementary education.
Peterson and his wife, Freda, have a 13-year-old daughter, Jada.
