John Peterson is now in his fourth year as an assistant coach for the Eastern Kentucky University baseball program. Peterson joined the Colonels after spending the three seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State University.
His duties at EKU now include working with catchers and pitchers, serving as the recruiting coordinator, compiling scouting reports on opponents and summer baseball placement. Peterson served as the hitting instructor and camp director from 2011-13.
One year after winning a share of the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship, Peterson helped a young Eastern team advance to the championship round of the OVC Tournament in 2013.
Under Peterson’s tutelage, catcher Sean Hagen was one of 76 players from across the nation to earn a spot on the Johnny Bench Award watch list in 2013. Hagen was also a semifinalist for the Gregg Olson Award, which is presented to the breakout player of the year.
The Colonels finished in the top four in the conference in 10 offensive categories in 2013, including doubles (2nd), hits (tied for 2nd), average (3rd), home runs (3rd) and slugging (3rd).
In 2012, Peterson helped Eastern capture its first OVC title since 2000. The Colonels won their final seven conference games, and 10 of their last 11 against OVC foes, on their way to a 31-23 overall record and a 19-7 league mark.
At the plate in 2012, Eastern was the 2012 NCAA Division I statistical champion for home runs per game. EKU, along with Arkansas-Little Rock, averaged of 1.22 dingers per contest. Eastern’s total of 66 home runs tied for second most in the nation. The Colonels also ranked among the top-30 in the country in slugging (4th), doubles (6th) and scoring (23rd). EKU led the OVC in slugging, doubles, triples, home runs and runs per game.
Individually, shortstop Richie Rodriguez was selected All-America by four different organizations and was drafted in the ninth round by the New York Mets. He was also chosen as one of three finalists from across the nation for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award. The All-OVC performer batted .377 and led EKU in almost every major offensive category in 2012. He ranked in the top-30 in the country in slugging percentage, total bases, home runs, runs per game, home runs per game and toughest to strike out.
Senior Jacob Daniel ranked 18th in the nation in triples and third baseman Bryan Soloman ranked 25th in home runs.
“John brings a wealth of knowledge to our baseball program,” head coach Jason Stein said. “He has won championships and he knows what it takes to be a consistent NCAA regional participant. He is an excellent teacher and communicator, and he will work tirelessly at developing our student-athletes and assisting in recruiting quality student-athletes into our program.”
While at MTSU, Peterson helped the Blue Raiders win the 2009 regular season and tournament championship in the Sun Belt Conference, one of the premiere college baseball conferences in the country. The Blue Raiders also broke nearly every offensive school record and were one of the top hitting teams in the country during Peterson’s three years at the school.
Peterson worked with catchers and hitters, and helped with on-campus recruiting visits during his stint at MTSU. He watched a number of the players he worked with get drafted in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, including the 36th overall pick in outfielder Bryce Brentz and 48th round pick catcher William Robertson. Eight hitters were drafted while Peterson was on the staff at MTSU.
Before his stint at Middle Tennessee, Peterson served as the hitting and catching coach at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Ala. While there, Peterson worked with a NJCAA third-team All-American catcher. Prior to his stint at Jefferson State, Peterson served as a student coach at the University of Memphis.
Peterson played at Memphis as a catcher and first baseman for two years. He transferred to Memphis from Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tenn., where he played as a sophomore. He played ball his freshman year at Jackson State Community College in Jackson, Tenn.
Along with his expanse of knowledge, Peterson touts a proven pedigree as he is the son of long-time and highly successful MTSU head baseball coach, Steve Peterson.
Peterson married the former Myranda Howland in the summer of 2008 and the couple resides in Richmond with their son Bryce and two dogs, Lily and Dax.
