Gil Peterson (American football)

Gil Peterson
Biographical details
Born(1930-02-25)February 25, 1930
Plattsmouth, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedJune 17, 2016(2016-06-17) (aged 86)
Dade City, Florida, U.S.
Playing career
1949Napa
1950Omaha
PositionTackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1954–1959Huron (line)
1960–1969Huron
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
?–1970Huron
1970–1994Western Illinois
Head coaching record
Overall47–40–3
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 SDIC (1960, 1964)

Gil Peterson (February 25, 1930 – June 17, 2016) was an American football and coach and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Huron College—later known as Huron University—in Huron, South Dakota from 1960 to 1969. Peterson was the athletic director at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois from 1970 to 1994.

Peterson was born on February 25, 1930, in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. He attended Plattsmouth High School and the University of Omaha—now known as the University of Nebraska Omaha. Peterson died on June 17, 2016, in Dade City, Florida.[1]

Peterson played football as a tackle at Napa Junior College—now known as Napa Valley College–in 1949 and at Omaha in 1950.[2] He signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) in 1952.[3] Peterson served as line coach at Huron College from 1954 until he was promoted to head football coach in 1960.[4] Peterson was also the athletic director at Huron before leaving for Western Illinois in 1970.[5]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Huron Scalpers (South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference) (1960–1969)
1960 Huron 7–2 5–1 T–1st
1961 Huron 7–2 5–1 2nd
1962 Huron 5–4 5–1 2nd
1963 Huron 6–3 5–1 2nd
1964 Huron 7–2 6–0 1st
1965 Huron 5–4 3–3 T–4th
1966 Huron 1–7–1 1–4–1 T–6th
1967 Huron 5–3–1 4–1–1 2nd
1968 Huron 2–6–1 2–4 5th
1969 Huron 2–7 1–5 T–6th
Huron: 47–40–3 37–21–2
Total: 47–40–3
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ "Gil Peterson Obituary". Fremont Tribune. Fremont, Nebraska. June 21, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2026 – via Legacy.com.
  2. ^ "Plattsmouth Boys Play on West Coast Team". The Plattsmouth Journal. Plattsmouth, Nebraska. October 3, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved March 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
  3. ^ "49'ers Sign Peterson". Morning World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. February 11, 1952. p. 11. Retrieved March 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
  4. ^ "Gil Peterson Head Grid Coach at Huron College". The Plattsmouth Journal. Plattsmouth, Nebraska. July 7, 1960. p. 6B. Retrieved March 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
  5. ^ "Western Names Peterson A.D." The Daily Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. May 30, 1970. p. A11. Retrieved March 16, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .