Russ Peterson has been named the RedHawks' Director and Head Coach of Cross Country/Track and Field, Miami University Director of Athletics David Sayler announced today. Peterson has led the program in an interim role since August 2023.
"Being named the next Director of Cross Country and Track and Field at Miami University is a tremendous honor, and I am grateful for the support and confidence shown in me by David Sayler, Chauncey Winbush and the entire Miami University community," said Peterson.
"I am humbled by the outpouring of support from alumni, and I am deeply thankful to my wife and current staff for their unwavering dedication. With their support and the momentum we have built, I am excited to lead the RedHawks to continued success as we head into the MAC Outdoor Championships."
Peterson initially joined Miami's coaching staff as an assistant track and field coach prior to the 2015-16 season, becoming assistant head coach in 2017 and then earning a promotion to associate head coach in 2022. During his tenure, Miami has won men's cross country team titles in 2018 and 2022 and a men's outdoor track team championship in 2021. The RedHawk men finished third in the MAC Cross Country Championships last fall, while Miami's women came in eighth, with the programs combining for four All-MAC honorees. During the indoor track season, the RedHawk women posted a second consecutive top-five team finish at the MAC Championships for the first time in more than a decade, including an additional individual All-MAC recognition.
In his time working with the RedHawks' sprinting, hurdling, jumping and relay events, Miami student-athletes have set more than 25 school records.
"Russ has consistently demonstrated during his entire career at Miami the ability to get the most out of his student-athletes, on and off the track," Sayler said. "His leadership over the past year has proven that he is the right person to lead our track and field and cross country programs forward. I'm excited for his vision to take shape as we continue in our mission of Graduating Champions."
Peterson came to Miami in 2015 from Western Illinois, where he served as assistant track and field coach and head cross country coach, with nine Leathernecks earning All-Summit League recognition in his final season on staff. Before heading to WIU, Peterson spent two years as a volunteer assistant coach with his alma mater, Iowa. While with the Hawkeyes, Peterson coached the sprinters and hurdlers, mentoring 10 Hawkeye sprinters to All-American honors as well as a total of five individual Big Ten Championships. During his two years at Iowa, every sprint and hurdle event, including the relays, saw new athletes break into the school top 10 list.
Prior to joining Iowa, Peterson was the assistant coach for sprints, hurdles and field events at Colgate University for four seasons. In his time in Hamilton, he pushed the Raiders to their best-ever finish in the Patriot League. During his tenure at Colgate, Peterson's athletes broke more than 40 school records and marked over 60 top-10 finishes, winning 12 individual league titles and more than 20 conference honors.
Peterson kicked off his coaching career at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. In his time with the Vikings, they rose to become a power in the CCIW Conference, culminated by an outdoor track and field title in 2008.
A native of Manteno, Ill., Peterson owns a Bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa, where he qualified for the NCAA Championships in all eight of his track seasons (indoor and outdoor) and finished his career on the top-10 list of six different events. Peterson also holds a Master's degree in Education (with an emphasis on athletic administration) from Augustana.
