SPERBECK NAMES PAUL PETERSON OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

1/9/2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State football team has selected Paul Peterson as its new offensive coordinator, it was announced today by head coach Marshall Sperbeck. Peterson will also serve as the team's quarterbacks coach.

In four years at Southern Utah, Peterson coached the Thunderbirds' quarterbacks and wide receivers and was also the team's passing game coordinator. During his tenure, he coached three of the most decorated QBs in Southern Utah history. Cody Stone set many of the school's single season and career passing marks in 2008. In 2009, Cade Cooper re-wrote most of the single marks only to be bettered by Brad Sorensen the past two years.

Peterson also coached a pair of Great West Conference MVPs while at SUU. In 2010, wide receiver Tysson Poots earned the honor after catching 85 passes for 1,230 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games. Last season, Sorensen won the award by completing 67.8 percent of his passes (288-425) for 3,143 yards and 17 touchdowns.

"Paul has had good success with several quarterbacks at Southern Utah," Sperbeck said. "He brings experience to the position as a player and coach and will provide some new ideas."

Peterson played collegiately at Boston College where he led the Eagles to a pair of bowl victories and was their team MVP for the 2004 season. He was a two-time Big East Conference Player of the Week and was the MVP of the Continental Tire Bowl. Peterson was 12-2 as a starter and finished his career ranked second in career passing percentage at B.C. Off the field, he was a recipient of the Boston College Senior Leadership Award and was named the 2005 Boston College Person of the Year.

Prior to attending Boston College, Pererson was a JC Gridwire All-American and honorable mention academic All-American at Snow College in Utah. As a sophomore, he led all NJCAA players in passing yards and touchdowns.

Following his collegiate career, Peterson played for the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League. He began his coaching career at Snow College in 2005 as the team's quarterbacks coach. That season, he helped guide the Badgers to a 9-2 overall record, a No. 8 national ranking and a bowl victory.

In 2006, he moved to BYU where he served as an offensive graduate assistant. That season, the Cougars were 11-2 and finished the season ranked 15th nationally after winning the Mountain West Conference and the Las Vegas Bowl.

Peterson spent one season (2007) at North Carolina State as a defensive graduate assistant under Tom O'Brien — his head coach at Boston College.

Sperbeck had previously handled the offensive play calling at Sacramento State since being hired in 2007. The rest of the offensive staff will consist of Aaron Ingram (running backs), Daniel DaPrato (receivers) and Conor Riley (offensive line). Fred Kelley, who was the team's assistant offensive line coach last season, has taken a position at Humboldt State for 2012. Bush Hamdan (tight ends) will become the offensive quality control coach at Florida.