Luther College will announce the first recipient of a new professorship honoring one of the school’s most influential coaches and educators during its Opening Convocation on Thursday, Sept. 3.
The inaugural Hamlet Peterson Distinguished Professorship in Exercise Science will be revealed at 9:40 a.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. The professorship is intended to support a member of Luther’s exercise science program, the department that grew from Peterson’s work in health and physical education.
A professorship rooted in Luther athletics
Hamlet E. Peterson graduated from Luther College in 1922 and remained at the college as a teacher of classical languages—Latin and Greek—and physical education. In 1925, he became coach of the football, basketball and track teams, later adding baseball to his responsibilities.
Known affectionately as “Coach Pete,” Peterson coached basketball for 40 seasons. Luther estimates that he coached more than 100 teams during his career. He also served as the college’s athletic director for many years and helped develop Luther’s health and physical education department, now called the exercise science department.
Peterson retired from Luther in 1967. He later documented the history of Luther athletics through the 1960s in his 1972 book, The Noble Norsemen. He died in 1973.
His connection to Luther began before his graduation. Born in 1897 on a farm one mile north of Scarville, Iowa, Peterson entered Luther as a student in 1916. His education was interrupted by military service during World War I, but he returned in 1919 and competed successfully in football, basketball and baseball. During his senior year, he was quarterback and captain of Luther’s football team.
Honoring the Peterson and Hustad families
The new professorship is funded by an estate gift from Jack F. Hustad and Regent Emerita Helen (Peterson) Hustad. The gift honors both Helen’s parents, Hamlet and Thelma Peterson, and Jack’s parents, Ferd and Vera Hustad.
All three of Hamlet and Thelma Peterson’s children were Luther alumni: Dr. Hamlet A. Peterson graduated in 1954, Luther Peterson in 1961 and Helen Hustad in 1952. Helen served two consecutive terms on the Luther College Board of Regents beginning in 1986. She died in 2024, while Jack Hustad died in 2025.
“We are deeply honored that our parents have chosen to celebrate the remarkable lives and contributions that our grandparents made to Luther College and the Decorah community through this professorship,” said Mikkel Hustad, the son of Jack and Helen Hustad and a 1983 Luther graduate.
Hustad said the couple’s legacy reflects a broad commitment to student development and community life.
“Coach Pete and Thelma devoted their lives to nurturing the whole person — mind, body, character and community. For decades, Coach Pete’s leadership — on the field, in the classroom, and throughout the community, reflected this belief. Thelma’s spirit and dedication matched his in every way. They helped shape countless lives. We are grateful that their legacy will continue to support and strengthen Luther for years to come,”
Peterson’s career brought recognition beyond Luther. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1931, was elected to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in its basketball section in 1958, and entered the Luther Hall of Fame in 1964. Luther awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1967, and sports organizations continued to honor him after his retirement.
Three-year appointment planned
The professorship recipient will be selected following a recommendation from Luther’s provost and appointed by the college president. The appointment will run for three years and may be renewed at the discretion of the provost and president.
The announcement will take place during Luther’s Opening Convocation in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall, giving the Decorah campus its first public look at the faculty member chosen to carry forward the Peterson family’s connection to exercise science, athletics and education.