MANHATTAN, Kan. – Jordan Peterson, an experienced defensive backs coach who has five years of coordinator experience and spent six years on Big 12 staffs, has been hired as Kansas State’s defensive coordinator and will work with the Wildcat defensive backs, head coach Collin Klein announced Sunday.
Peterson comes from his alma mater, Texas A&M, where he served alongside Klein as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach each of the past two seasons.
“I am extremely excited to accept this position at Kansas State and join Coach Klein and the Wildcat program,” Peterson said. “Kansas State is a special place with a proud football tradition. My family and I are looking forward to the opportunity to return to the great state of Kansas and lead the K-State defense. I am also very thankful to Texas A&M and Coach Elko for an incredible two years and for the support and relationships that mean so much to our family. EMAW!”
A native of Lexington, Texas, Peterson is entering his third stint in the Big 12 having served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M in 2010 and 2011 – the Aggies’ final two years in the conference – in addition to being a defensive assistant at Kansas from 2020 through 2023.
“Jordan is the entire package – an elite strategist and recruiter, and he develops relationships with his players,” Klein said. “His players play incredibly hard for him and continually get better. I am excited for him to be the leader of our defense.”
Peterson helped guide Texas A&M to an 11-2 record and a trip to the College Football Playoff in 2025. Texas A&M leads the nation in third down defense (22.9%), while the Aggies rank second in sacks (3.31 per game), third in tackles for loss (8.5 per game), 16th in passing yards allowed (176.6 per game) and first down defense (205), 19th in total defense (307.4 per game), and 22nd in fourth down defense (41.2%).
Peterson’s defensive backs were responsible for 24 pass breakups this past season, which included a combined 14 from starting cornerbacks Will Lee III and Dezz Ricks. Additionally, safety Marcus Ratcliffe ranked second on the team with 66 tackles and another safety, Dalton Brooks, had 5.5 tackles for loss.
In his first season on staff at Texas A&M in 2024, Peterson helped the Aggies earn an 8-5 record – including a program-best 5-0 start to SEC play – and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl. He oversaw a secondary that played a key role in the Aggies ranking 14th nationally with 16 interceptions, while Texas A&M tied for fifth in the country with 76 total passes defended. Of the 16 interceptions, 13 came from Peterson’s defensive backs, including three from BJ Mayes to tie for fourth in the SEC.
Peterson tutored Lee III to 2024 All-SEC Second Team accolades as he ranked fifth in the conference with 10 pass breakups and was in the top five on the team with 42 tackles, including a team-best 39 solo stops.
Prior to his time at Texas A&M, Peterson worked four seasons at Kansas as the safeties coach (2020, 2022), senior defensive analyst (2021) and defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach (2023). During his time in Lawrence, Peterson mentored four All-Big 12 selections, including two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection Cobee Bryant. Bryant and Mello Dotson, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honoree, combined for seven interceptions in 2023, the most by a Kansas duo since 2007. Dotson returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns, doing so in back-to-back games as he became the first player in school history with a pick-six in consecutive games.
In 2022, Peterson helped the Jayhawks qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2008. That season, Bryant finished with three interceptions and nine pass breakups, ranking fifth in the conference with 12 passes defended in league play, while he totaled 38 tackles on the year.
Peterson joined Kansas’ staff as the safeties coach in 2020 when he guided Kenny Logan Jr. a team-high two interceptions and 58 tackles.
Peterson went to Kansas from New Mexico where he earned a promotion each season. Originally joining the Lobo staff as a safeties coach, Peterson was the defensive pass game coordinator in 2018 before running the UNM defense in 2019. In his first two seasons at New Mexico, Peterson’s safeties paced the squad in tackles as Jake Rothschiller (2017) and Stanley Barnwell Jr. (2018) each had a team-leading 76 stops.
The longest stint in Peterson’s career came at Fresno State where, like other stops, he received multiple promotions. During his time with the Bulldogs, he coached eight All-Mountain West honorees, four of which earned first-team designations.
Beginning as the secondary coach in 2012, Peterson helped the Bulldogs to a 9-4 record as they ranked second nationally in pass defense (167.15 yards per game) and fourth in pass efficiency defense (100.80). He also mentored safety Phillip Thomas to Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors. Fresno State then won the 2013 Mountain West title and a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl before he coached the outside linebackers and served as the recruiting coordinator in 2015 and 2016.
Peterson received his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M in 2010 and 2011, the Aggies’ final two seasons in the Big 12. He was a four-year letterwinner for Texas A&M from 2006 to 2009 as a safety and punt returner, recording 81 career tackles to go along with 15 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four interceptions, one of which he returned 48 yards for a touchdown. He also led the team with 14 punt returns for 108 yards in 2007. A three-time Academic All-Big 12 performer, Peterson was an Academic All-Region selection in 2008.
Peterson received his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Texas A&M in 2009 in addition to his master’s degree in education curriculum and instruction in 2010. He and his wife, Missy, have three daughters, Ellie, Emery and Everly.
THE JORDAN PETERSON FILE
Hometown: Lexington, Texas
High School: Lexington
College: Texas A&M – Bachelor’s degree in sports management (2009); Master’s degree in education curriculum and instruction (2010)
Family: Wife: Missy; Children: Ellie, Emery, Everly
Playing Career: Texas A&M (defensive back), 2005-09
JORDAN PETERSON’S COACHING CAREER
2010-11, Texas A&M (Graduate Assistant)
2012-14, Fresno State (Secondary)
2015-16, Fresno State (Outside Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator)
2017, New Mexico (Safeties)
2018, New Mexico (Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Safeties)
2019, New Mexico (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2020, Kansas (Safeties)
2021, Kansas (Senior Defensive Analyst)
2022, Kansas (Defensive Backs)
2023, Kansas (Defensive Backs/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator)
2024-25, Texas A&M (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2026, Kansas State (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
