After 17 seasons, an era has come to an end in the Texas A&M-Kingsville athletic department as Javelina men’s basketball head coach Pete Peterson announced his retirement on Tuesday.

The longest tenured and all-time wins leader in Javelina men’s basketball history, Peterson has long been a figurehead in the Javelina athletic department. He completes his Javelina coaching career with 241 victories, 2 LSC Coach of the Year awards (2004, 2006), 6 LSC Freshmen of the Year honorees, 3 All-Americans, 2 LSC Players of the Year, 8 winning seasons and was named the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Small College Coach of the Year in 2008-09. The only Javelina head men’s basketball coach to amass 200 or more wins, Peterson recorded 6 consecutive winning seasons from 2003-04 to 2008-09

The veteran coach led the Javelins to the Lone Star Conference tournament 11 times including this past season. Twice his teams advanced to NCAA Regional play under his watch. A defensive specialist, Peterson’s players were named the LSC’s Defensive Player of the Year on four occasions.

Scott Gines, Vice President for Athletics and Campus Recreation, stated, "Pete Peterson is a model employee and citizen. His name is synonymous with character and professionalism. He gave heart, mind, body and soul to Javelina men’s basketball, and along the way he left a positive mark on countless players, assistant coaches, and athletic department employees."

A national search for a new coach will begin immediately.

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