Mike Peterson calls returning to UF a dream come true: 'I'm jacked'

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•02/17/22•

ZachAbolverdi

For the first time in eight years, the Florida football coaching staff features a former UF player in Mike Peterson. 

The Gainesville native and Gator Great returned to his alma mater last month as outside linebackers coach and alumni liaison. This is Peterson’s second stint at Florida as a staff member, working as a Gators’ strength and conditioning coach from 2013-15 following his 14-year NFL career. 

Now Peterson is back home as a full-time coach. 

“It’s like a dream come true,” Peterson said in the video feature below. “To be back not only where I played and have a lot of fond memories, but I get a chance to be around people that watched me play and played with me. So, I’m just thankful for the opportunity.” 

Peterson wasted no time getting back in his community, hitting the recruiting trail on Jan. 20 to visit several area high schools. His stops that day included Columbia, Eastside, Gainesville, Hawthorne, PK Yonge and Santa Fe, his alma mater. 

Peterson spent the past six seasons as the outside linebackers coach at South Carolina, and also coached defensive ends in 2021. He was the lone holdover on Shane Beamer’s staff and worked seven total years under former Florida coach Will Muschamp, who also hired former Gators Aubrey Hill (2011) and Chris Leak (2014) as assistant coaches. 

Peterson coached former South Carolina outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum, who just finished his second season with the Minnesota Vikings. Under Peterson’s tutelage, Wonnum had the fourth-most tackles for loss in the SEC in 2017 and his 29.5 career tackles for loss ranks ninth on the school’s all-time list. 

“Mike is a fantastic coach,” UF coach Billy Napier said of Peterson. “Everyone of his profession knows and respects Mike for his ability to get his players to play well, and the relationships he has with his players. Certainly, his pedigree as a former great not only at the University but in the National Football League. 

“He’s a great teammate and he’s invaluable because of his knowledge of this place and the things that come with the University of Florida. We’re excited about Mike and his leadership and how it will impact the team.”

Peterson played linebacker for the Gators from 1995-98, earning first-team All-SEC and All-America honors as a senior. He was a second-round pick (36th pick overall) in the 1999 NFL Draft and played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts (1999-2002), Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-08) and Atlanta Falcons (2009-12).

Peterson now brings his SEC and NFL experience and knowledge to Napier’s staff.

“I’m jacked, man. I’m jacked. As a coach, I see the plan,” Peterson said. “And I just want to be a small part of it and push it and get Gator Nation back to the top.”

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