Peterson Jerome enters his 16th year as the SUNY Poly Head Men’s Soccer Coach in 2018.

In 2017, Jerome led the Wildcats to an 11-9 overall record, and a 7-3 record in NEAC play. The Wildcats reached the NEAC title game after a thrilling overtime victory against Lancaster Bible in the conference tournament semi-final.

Jerome led the Wildcats to their greatest season in SUNY Poly history in 2013, which saw the Wildcats take home their third NEAC Championship in just 4 seasons (also earning them their 3rd NCAA Tournament appearance over the same span). The team finished with a record of 16-2-2, obliterating the previous school record for wins in a season. The team would go on to finish 5th in the Northeast Regional Rankings, and even received votes for the national top-25 at one point. Three Wildcats earned All-Region honors, while goalkeeper Malick Faye was selected as the NSCAA All-America 1st Team Goalkeeper, the first player of any sport to earn such an honor at SUNY Poly.

For his efforts, Jerome picked up his third NEAC Coach of the Year Award in 2013.

Jerome began his Wildcat career as the assistant men’s soccer coach in 2002 before taking over full time in August of 2003. In 2010 and 2011, Jerome guided the team to back-to-back NEAC Conference Championships, winning Coach of the Year honors in both seasons and earning a pair of appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to that in 2009 and 2010, the team recorded back-to-back double-digit winning seasons for the first time in program history and two consecutive appearances in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) tournament. 

Before joining SUNY Poly, Jerome was the head coach of the women’s soccer team at Herkimer County Community College in 2001. During his time there, Jerome was named the 2001 Mountain Valley Conference Coach of the Year and also led his squad to a conference championship that same year.  He also had tremendous success on the field for HCCC, which he attended for two years and received an Associate of Science degree in sports & recreational management in 1998.  As a star soccer player, Jerome was the 1997 Mount Valley Conference Player of the Year and the Region III Player of the Year, while also being selected to the All-Mountain Valley Conference First Team, the All-Region First Team, the Region III All-Tournament team, the All-Mid East team, the NJCAA All-America First Team and the NSCAA All-America First team that same year.  Additionally, he was the Region III Tournament Most Valuable Offensive Player, an All-Region First Team selection and an All-Mountain Valley Conference First Team selection in 1996.

After receiving his Associate’s degree, Jerome then went on to become a standout soccer player at The Ohio State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in education & coaching in 2001. During his time as a Buckeye, Jerome was named to the 1999 All-Ohio Team and 1999 All-Big Ten Conference Team. 

Originally from Haverstraw, NY, Jerome currently resides in New Hartford with his wife Lisa, and their four children, John Paul, Isabella, Gabriella Marie, and Sofia.