Player

Petersen attended CSU East Bay where he played as goalkeeper

Goalkeeper (football)

In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...

 on the men’s soccer team. In 1984, he was named to the First Team All Conference team.

Coach

In 1990, Petersen became an assistant coach with the Stanford Cardinals soccer team. In 1994, he was hired as head coach of the expansion CCV Hydra of the USISL. He moved to the Monterey Bay Jaguars in 1995, before he joined the Reno Rattlers

Reno Rattlers

The Reno Rattlers were an American soccer team based in Reno, Nevada. The club began in the USISL and moved to the USL Second Division in 1995. The team moved up to the USISL Select League in 1996, but returned to the Pro League the next season.-Year-by-year:...

.
In 1997, the Nashville Metros

Nashville Metros

Nashville Metros is an American soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...

 of the USISL A-League hired Petersen. In 1998, the Metros went to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup

1998 U.S. Open Cup

-Quarterfinals:-------------Semifinals:-----Final:-Top scorers:-See also:* United States Soccer Federation* Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup* Major League Soccer* United Soccer Leagues* USASA* National Premier Soccer League...

. On November 3, 1999, the El Paso Patriots

El Paso Patriots

Chivas El Paso Patriots is an American soccer team based in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference.The team plays its home games at...

 offered Petersen the head coaching position, which he took for a season. In 2003, he was hired by the Des Moines Menace

Des Moines Menace

Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at Valley...

. In 2004 Petersen joined Ajax Orlando as the director of youth development. In February 2005, he became the head coach of the team. Petersen's Ajax Orlando Team became Champions of the Disney Showcase in 2005. In May 2008, Rocket City United

Rocket City United

Rocket City United is an American soccer team based in Huntsville, Alabama, United States. Founded in 2007, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division.The team plays its home games at...

 of the National Premier Soccer League

National Premier Soccer League

The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...

hired Petersen. He coached the 2008 and 2009 seasons, taking the Team to the NPSL Finals in 2009.
Currently Petersen is a Technical Consultant for Extra Time, Professional Football Consultants out of Barcelona, Spain