Coach Mike Peterson, in his second year as the head coach of the Phoenix College Bears program, began his competitive golfing career in 1964 by earning a letter in Golf playing on the West High Golf Team. He played two seasons at Phoenix College and two years at Northern Arizona University, earning letters during each of those four seasons. He won the Post Championship twice while he was stationed at White Sands Missile Range in 1971 and 1972. He has won the Encanto Men’s Club Championship twice, won the Arizona State Teachers Tournament eight times, been the first state alternate to the USGA National Public Links Championship in 1980, and qualified as a state (sectional) representative to the 1981 USGA National Amateur Championship in San Francisco at The Olympic Club. His current handicap index is 3.3.

He retired as a Mathematics Teacher and Boy’s Golf Coach at Shadow Mountain High School in early June of 2002. He held the position of golf coach from 1974 until 2002. During that period, Shadow Mountain’s golf team maintained the position as a top program in Arizona. He was the senior 5A golf representative to the AIA for 18 years. As the Chairman of the 5A Golf Representatives, he was responsible for scheduling all 5A schools in Arizona, planning and running both Regional and 5A State Championship Tournaments. He spent 12 years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona and worked with The Thunderbirds to organize and run the Arizona High School Senior Classic from 1983 to 2002. He coordinated and ran two All-American Prep National Championships for the NHSACA. He has served 9 years as an elected board member of the Encanto Men’s Club. He worked as a member of the teaching staff in Jim Farkas’ Junior Golf Schools during the summer since 1992.

He worked part-time as adjunct faculty in the Mathematics Department as well as being the Golf Coach at Phoenix College. The two years I spent as student at Phoenix College were very important to me. I had a great time and grew a great deal as a person. I am trying to create the same opportunity, as I experienced. for the young men at Phoenix College.