Written By Bob Redman aka Hollywood Bob
His name is one that Florida fans wanted to return to Gainesville ever since he really got started in the coaching business. Those fans who wanted him back are in luck.
Mike Peterson has set foot in The Swamp once again — this time as the outside linebackers coach at the University of Florida.
Born in Gainesville, Peterson grew up just outside of town in Alachua. The fierce linebacker made a name for himself with the Santa Fe Raiders and was signed by the Florida Gators in 1995.
He starred for the Gators on the field, and now, he is trying to create stars, mold them into men and coach them up at his old stomping grounds.
Peterson played all four years he was on campus. He played in two national championship games, adding a national championship ring in 1996. As a senior in the 1998 season, Peterson earned All-SEC and first-team All-American.
As much as he was a wrecking ball on the field, off the field he did all the right things. All of that translated into him being a second-round pick of the Colts. His time in Indianapolis started a career that lasted 14 years in the NFL on three different teams.
After his playing days, he became a student assistant at Florida and finished his degree. That allowed him a spot as a full-time assistant on the strength staff for a couple of years. Next, he spent six years as a linebacker coach at South Carolina.
Peterson was on a crash course with his coaching career because of the time he spent in charge of the defense from his position on the field in the NFL. When his playing time decreased, he was still a leader. The natural step when he was done playing was to coach.
“I just looked at it more like I’m just giving back to the game,” Peterson said. “This game, it’s blessed me along the way and helped me be able to bless a lot of people in my life, and I think coaching, being able to affect college kids, is kind of the ultimate way of giving back to the game.”
Peterson’s job now is more than about the game. He is also building character. The hometown boy has done it right all of his life, and now, he wants to give back on and off the field to the young men he teaches.
Peterson had plenty of mentors along the way. He tries to pull the best lessons from each of them to pass on to the players he is now coaching.
“The first thing I said was, ‘OK, I’m going to make a coach’s creed.’ The Mike P coach’s creed,” he said.
Peterson aims to instill three core values or priorities in athletes on his team. No. 1 on the list is to earn their degree — “and I’m 100% with this right now,” he said.
“No. 2 is I’m going to turn them from boys to men. I’m going to teach ’em. We’re gonna learn how to tie a tie. We’re gonna learn how to save our money. We’re gonna learn how to talk to girls. We’re gonna learn how to be a husband. We’re gonna learn how to be a boyfriend,” he said.
Peterson takes a simple, practical approach to No. 3: “We’re gonna learn the game of football.”
He leaves them with one of the most important things to him.
“My last thing is I tell them, ‘Play hard and have fun,’” he said. “It’s still a game, so play hard and have