Alfred Charles N. Petersen (January 12, 1868 – November 6, 1933) was an American physician and college football player and coach. He was the first head football coach at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, serving from 1896 to 1897.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 12, 1868 Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Died | November 6, 1933 (aged 65) Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania Medical School |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1896–1897 | Holy Cross |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 6–5–3 |
Early life
editPetersen was born on January 12, 1868, in Copenhagen to Michael Abraham and Hansine V. (Hansen) Petersen.[1][2] The family moved to the United States when Petersen was three months old.[2] He attended Worcester Public Schools and graduated from Worcester High School in 1889.[1]
Athletics
editIn 1891, Petersen enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania, where he was captain of the freshman crew and a member of the school's varsity crew from 1893 to 1895. He also played end on the Penn Quakers football team.[1][2] Petersen was the head football coach at the College of the Holy Cross in 1896 and 1897 and complied a 6–5–3 record.[3] He also coached and rowed for the Worcester crew.[2]
Medicine
editPetersen graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1897. He completed his internship at Worcester City Hospital then went into private practice in Worcester.[1]
In addition to his medical practice, Petersen was also a director of the New Tubercular Home, president of the Public Coal Company, and a trustee of the Worcester Free Public Library.[1][2][4]
Personal life
editOn October 11, 1899, Petersen married Anna H. Lucke, they had one son, Alfred Herman Petersen.[1] Petersen died on November 6, 1933.[5]
Head coaching record
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Cross (Independent) (1896–1897) | |||||||||
| 1896 | Holy Cross | 2–2–2 | |||||||
| 1897 | Holy Cross | 4–3–1 | |||||||
| Holy Cross: | 6–5–3 | ||||||||
| Total: | 6–5–3 | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Universities and Their Sons: University of Pennsylvania. Boston: R. Herndon Company. 1902. p. 605. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Nutt, Charles (1919). History of Worcester And Its People. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 662. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ "2012 Holy Cross Football Media Guide" (PDF). Go Holy Cross. College of the Holy Cross. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ "Mothers Birth Insurance Co". Boston Evening Transcript. May 9, 1903. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ "Alfred C. N. Petersen". The Boston Globe. November 7, 1933. Retrieved February 12, 2024.