August 2014 Luncheon - Husky Football Coach Petersen

Coach Petersen speaking to Fiji Luncheon at the Seattle Yacht Club

Coach Chris Petersen is the new Husky Football Coach, and he is a much sought-after speaker these days.  Our luncheon group was fortunate to be one of the few appearances that Coach Petersen is making these days.  Surely it is the caliber of our group, but much of the Coach's decision to speak to our group has to be attributed to our stalwart grad, Ron Crockett '61.  

Ron continues to be a leading UW alumni for the UW Athletic program, and Ron is generous to personally invite Coach Petersen to speak to our group.

Petersen is a soft-spoken, forthright, spokesperson for the "whole man" approach to coaching.  After a few minutes of comments, he turned the floor over to questions.  He then spent the next 40 minutes responding to a multitude of questions with very thoughtful answers.

He took all questions in stride.  They ranged from questions about specific players - "yes, Budda Baker is a high quality athlete who goes a 100% in practices", "yes, the Chris Peteresen program begins in the weight room", in response to a question on how he beat Oregon 2 times, "each season a team will play above its level in about 4 games, and he was fortunate that his team played above its level when it beat Oregon twice in the past few years".

In a very Don James-like explanation, Peteresen explained his philosophy to build men of character who play football.  His emphasis on building the man, would mean that they don't limit their self-image to being a football player.  He relayed his experience of reaching the end of his college career -- now what?  All he'd ever seen himself as -- thru high school and college -- was as a football player.  His goal is to equip them to be focused and prepared for their longer life after football ends.  And, in the meantime, work with guys who get to know themselves, prepare themselves for success, and focus intensely on achieving success in football.    It was all very interesting.

Thanks again to Coach Peteresen for such an interesting slice of his time.  And thanks to Ron Crockett '61 for putting our luncheon group on Peteresen's radar.

Go Huskies!

Part of the crowd for Coach Petersen