Coaching Staff

BRAD PETERSON

brpeterson@indianatech.edu
(260) 422-5561 x2115

Coach Brad Peterson had a successful first season as cross country coach at Indiana Tech as both the men's and women's teams qualified for nationals. The men placed 20th while the women placed 9th. The women also won conference and regional titles. Peterson coached Camron Walter to an All American finish at nationals as he placed 20th. Kara Van Horn just missed finishing All American for the women as she was 36th place at nationals and needed to be top 30.

Peterson also had a successful first season as track coach at Indiana Tech in their first season. The women qualified 12 different people for indoor and outdoor nationals and the men qualified 15 different individuals for indoor and outdoor nationals. Peterson coached Alissa McKaig to 3 national championships, one indoors in the 5000 meters, and two outdoors in the 5000 and 10,0000. In both of those races, she broke the national meet record, running 16:39 for 5k and 34:20 for 10k. Peterson also coached Rod Waters to a national title in the 110 hurdles, as Waters ran 13.98. Other All American that Peterson coached in his first year were Derrick Brinkley in the 600 and Kesonn Lee in the 60 meter dash. Top 10 finishers for Peterson at indoor or outdoor nationals were Alyssa Webb in the 1500 and 800; Camron Walter in the steeplechase; Dina Petridis in the pole vault; Brett Tipton in the 800; Kesonn Lee in the 100 and 200; the men's 3200 relay; and the women's 1600 relay.

Coach Peterson's prior coaching experience was at the high school level, first at Northrop High School in 1997-1999, and then at Concordia High School in 1999-2006. In those 9 years, he coached 12 different individual state champions. His coaching highlights at Northrop High School: Brett Tipton and Nathan Peffley went 1-2 in the 1600 meter run in 1999. Tipton winning the national 800 championship indoors. Tipton running 1:51.77, the 3rd fastest 800 in United States high school history at the time. Talia Barwick winning the 800 in 2:14 in 1998. The 3200 relay team finishing 2nd at nationals in a time of 7:41 in 1998. Peterson's coaching highlights at Concordia: Alissa McKaig winning the state cross country meet in 2003 and then backing it up with Adele Mitchell winning the state cross country meet the very next year in 2004. McKaig also qualified for Foot Locker Nationals and was the state 1600 champion in 4:49. Joy Eloms won the 100 meter dash in 2004 in 11.90. Christina Whitt won the 200 in 24.49 in 2002. Peterson also coached Amber Williams in the hurdles to a 3rd place state meet finish and she is now one of the best hurdlers in the United States at Ball State, qualifying for the Olympic Trials in 2008.

Peterson was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and attended Concordia High School, where he competed in cross country, track, and basketball. Brad went on to Ball State University where he received his Education degree in English, Physical Education, and Health. He also received his Master's Degree in Administration from IPFW in 2007.

BARRIE PETERSON

Coach Barrie Peterson comes to us with 41 years of coaching experience at the high school, grade school, and collegiate levels. Success has followed Coach Peterson wherever he has coached beginning at the now defunct Fort Wayne Central High School where he served as Assistant Track Coach and Head Cross Country Coach from 1966 through 1971. In 1971, he was named as the first Head Boys' Track and Cross Country Coach at the brand new Northrop High School.

During his two tenures at the helm of the Bruins, Coach Peterson coached many all state athletes in both track and cross country, several state champions in track and field, and his teams were always ranked among the best in the State of Indiana.

His most recent state champion was Bobby Muldovan in the 3200 at the 2006 state track meet. In his 16 total years as the Head Track and Field Coach at Northrop, he never failed to have at least one athlete advance to the state meet. In his 26 years as Head Cross Country Coach at Northrop, his teams have won 20 conference championships, 16 sectional and regional championships, 2 Semi-State championships, and have advanced to the state meet a total of 22 times. Includes in his list of team championships was a state championship in Track in 1997 and four runnerup team finishes in cross country. Coach Peterson's high school coaching was interrupted with a brief two year stint as the Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach at IPFW. This was then followed with a six year assignment at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne where he led the Cadets to their first ever Sectional Championship in cross country and their first ever appearance at the Semi State level. In 1994, he returned to Northrop High School where he has coached for the last 13 years before joining the staff here at Indiana Tech. Coach Peterson was elected to the IATCCC Coach's Hall of Fame in 2000. Peterson is happily still married to his high school sweetheart, Judy, and has three sons: Jeff, Mike, and Brad, all residing in Fort Wayne.

Doug Edgar: Assistant Track and Field Coach

Coach Doug Edgar comes to us from Muncie South High School, where he served as the sprint and middle distance track coach and assistant cross country coach. Edgar helped coach the cross country team to its first ever regional championship. He also led the Rebels to their first every back to back sectional championships in track and field. His athletes broke school records in the 100, 4x1 relay, 4x800, 4x200, Distance Medley, sprint medley, and the 300 hurdles. Before his time at Muncie South, Coach Edgar was a volunteer coach at Concordia Lutheran High School, where he also ran for Coach Brad Peterson. Here at Tech, Edgar will focus on the 400 runners.

At Concordia, Edgar participated in soccer and track. He was a 3 time all state 4x4 relay member with a best split of 48.8. He also qualified as a member of the 3200 relay team. He still is a part of the school record 1600 relay and sprint medley relay. After graduating from Concordia in 2003, Edgar attended Anderson University where he was a two time conference champion. He graduate from Anderson in 2008 with a degree in secondary social studies education.

Coach Edgar currently lives in Fort Wayne with his wife Samantha and daughter Addyson. He is employed at Norwell High School.

Roderick Waters: Assistant Track and Field Coach

Roderick Waters will now start his coaching career at Indiana Tech after winning a national title in the 110 hurdles in a time of 13.98 for them as a student athlete in 2008. Rod also won 4 conference titles in track and was named Outstanding Performer at the conference meet.

Roderick, the youngest of 3, grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana playing basketball and football through local youth organizations. As a sophomore in high school, he discovered he had a passion for running and joined the cross country team instead of playing football. Later that year, he ran track for the first time, participating in long distance races. The coaches realized he may be better suited for the hurdle events. This began his career as a hurdler. As a high school senior, Rod won the 2004 Wayne Sectional 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles and then placed 2nd in the 300 hurdles and 3rd in the 110 hurdles at the Wayne Regional. He was also a member of the 1600 relay team that placed 4th at the state meet. He went on to Vincennes and was a multi All American there and also at Bethel before making his way to Indiana Tech for his senior season. His highlight at Bethel was having the best 60 hurdle time in all of NAIA with a 7.94, which qualified him for the USA Championships.

Rod's focus as a coach will be the hurdlers but also he will work with all sprinters in some capacity.

Lance Hoffman: Assistant Track and Field Coach

Coach Hoffman arrives at Indiana Tech with 19 years of experience. He began his coaching career in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, while still a collegian. Most of his time, however, has been at Concordia Lutheran High School here in Fort Wayne. He has coached track as well as football and wrestling while at Concordia. Highlights of his tenure are state champion and runnerup team finishes along with conference and sectional titles in track as well as two trips to the semi state with the football team. He has coaches athletes to the high school state meet in the 100, 200, 400, 110Hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump, high jump, 400 relay, and 1600 relay. He has coached some of the best 400 relay team in Indiana history: 41.39 for the boys and 46.16 for the girls. His top athlete he ever coached was Rolando Scott, who was state champ in the 100 meter dash in 1998, and he also long jumped 24-10, the 2nd best jump in state history.

While attending Concordia University in Wisconsin and obtaining a B.A. in Education in 1990, he also had an outstanding football career. He was NAIA All American in both 1988 and 1989, once as a defensive back and once as a quarterback. He was twice named the Player of the Year in the Conference and was named All Conference 6 different times. He was inducted into the University's Hall of Fame in 2002.

In his prep days at Concordia, he placed 3rd in the state wrestling meet and was a part of the 7th place 1600 relay team.

He attended IPFW to get his M.S. in education in 2001. Lance is married to his college sweetheart Linda and they have 3 boys: Luke, Logan, and Levi.

Lance will be working with the jumpers, throwers, and sprinters.