Florida reportedly hiring South Carolina assistant, UF Hall of Famer
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Billy Napier’s Florida staff will reportedly include a Gator great with SEC East coaching experience. UF Hall of Famer Mike Peterson is leaving South Carolina to return to Gainesville as outside linebackers coach and alumni liaison, according to Chris Vannini of The Athletic.
SOURCE: Florida is adding South Carolina OLB coach and Gators legend Mike Peterson as OLB coach and alumni liaison, @TheAthletic has learned.
Peterson is in the UF Hall of Fame has been at South Carolina since 2016.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 5, 2022
Peterson, who was born in Gainesville and played high school football at Santa Fe in nearby Alachua, was a linebacker on Florida’s 1996 national championship team. In 1998, his senior season, Peterson served as a team captain, earned first-team All-SEC and All-America honors and was selected as the Gators’ most valuable player by his teammates. After graduating from UF, Peterson played in the NFL for 14 years. Playing for Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Atlanta, Peterson recorded 883 tackles, 21.5 sacks and 19 interceptions over 196 games. Peterson was inducted into the UF Hall of Fame in 2011.
After his playing career, Peterson got into coaching, joining Will Muschamp’s Florida staff as an assistant strength coach. He followed Muschamp to South Carolina, coaching outside linebackers and defensive ends. Peterson was retained by Shane Beamer after Muschamp’s firing.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
