THE PETERSON FILE

PERSONAL

Hometown: Lexington, Texas
Education: Texas A&M BS, 2009; MS 2010
Wife: Missy
Children: Ellie, Emery, Everly

COACHING RESUME

2010-11: Texas A&M (Graduate Assistant)
2012-16: Fresno State (Secondary/Outside Linebackers)
2017-18: New Mexico (Safeties)
2019: New Mexico (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2020: Kansas (Safeties)
2021: Kansas (Defensive Analyst)
2022: Kansas (Safeties)
2023: Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs
2024-: Texas A&M (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE

2010: Texas A&M (Cotton)
2011: Texas A&M (Texas)
2012: Fresno State (Hawaii)
2013: Fresno State (Las Vegas)
2014: Fresno State (Hawaii)
2022: Kansas (Liberty)
2023: Kansas (Guaranteed Rate Bowl)
2024: Texas A&M (Las Vegas)

Jordan Peterson returned to Aggieland to join head coach Mike Elko’s staff as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in January of 2024.

Helped guide the Aggies to an 8-5 record, including a program-best 5-0 start to SEC play, and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl in 2024. Oversaw a secondary that played a key role in the Aggies ranking in the top-three in the SEC with 16 interceptions and 76 passes defended on the season.

Peterson spent four seasons at Kansas as the defensive backs coach and was elevated to co-defensive coordinator at the conclusion of the 2023 regular season. During his time at Kansas, Peterson mentored four All-Big 12 selections, including two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection Cobee Bryant, who became the second Jayhawk cornerback in school history to twice be named first team all-conference. Bryant and Mello Dotson, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honoree, combined for seven interceptions in 2023, the most by a Kansas duo since 2007. Dotson returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns, doing so in back-to-back games as he became the first Jayhawk in school history with a pick-six in consecutive games.

The 2023 season was another step forward for Kansas football as the Jayhawks finished 8-4 to secure a winning record for the first time since 2008 as they claimed consecutive bowl berths for only the second time in program history.

In 2022, Peterson helped the Jayhawks qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2008 and break into the AP top-25 for the first time since 2009 after starting the season 5-0. That season, Bryant finished with three interceptions and nine pass breakups, ranking fifth in the Big 12 with 12 passes defended in league play and totaled 38 tackles on the year.

Peterson joined Kansas’ staff in January 2020, working the safeties. In his first season in Lawrence, Peterson coached Kansas’ Kenny Logan Jr. to a standout season where the sophomore snagged a team-high two interceptions and 58 tackles. Logan was a game-changer for the secondary, recording four pass breakups, one forced fumble and 1.0 sack.

Before making the move to Kansas, Peterson spent three seasons at New Mexico (2017-19) working with the safeties and was promoted to defensive coordinator prior to the 2019 season. In his first two seasons at New Mexico, Peterson guided the safeties unit to lead the team in tackles, with Jake Rothschiller and Stanley Barnwell Jr., recording 76 tackles in 2018.

Prior to his time at New Mexico, Peterson coached at Fresno State for five seasons. From 2012-16 he helped the Bulldogs to three consecutive bowl games and a 2014 Mountain West championship game appearance, as well as a 2013 Mountain West title. Peterson coached both the secondary and outside linebackers through his time at Fresno State, while also serving as recruiting coordinator and a special teams coach.

Peterson excelled in his role of secondary coach at Fresno State, coaching that position in 2012 when Fresno State went 9-4 and ranked second nationally in pass defense and fourth in pass efficiency defense. He also mentored safety Phillip Thomas to Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2012.

Peterson got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant coach at Texas A&M in 2010 and 2011. That followed a four-year playing career with the Aggies, where he made 81 tackles and broke up 15 passes. He also forced two fumbles, recovered one fumble and picked off four passes. He returned one of those passes 48 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico. He was a two-time All-Big 12 Academic First Team selection, and he was a CoSIDA Academic All-Region selection in 2008.

Peterson received his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Texas A&M in 2009 along with his master’s in education curriculum and instruction in 2010. He graduated from Lexington High School in Central Texas, where he earned first-team all-state honors as a defensive back and honorable mention accolades as a quarterback his senior year. He was named Texas Prep Xtra Central Texas MVP.

He and his wife Missy have three daughters, Ellie, Emery and Everly.