Following his graduation from Luther College in 1922, Hamlet Peterson joined the faculty and taught in the college program. Three years later he assumed coaching responsibilities in the college, a career that would span 45 years. Peterson coached more than 100 teams as head coach of football, basketball, baseball and track.
Following his retirement, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference awarded Peterson the 45-year Meritorious Service Award. He received the NAIA Helms Hall of Fame Citation from the Football Writers Association of America and the Quarter-Century Leadership and Devotion Award from the ABCA.
Peterson was inducted into the Iowa High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and was a 1964 inductee into Luther College Athletic Hall of Fame.
