Coach Jane Peterson honored with Special Merit Award 

Central Lakes College is proud to announce that recently retired head volleyball coach Jane Peterson has been selected as a Special Merit Award recipient as part of the 2026 National Girls & Women in Sports Day–Minnesota celebration. This prestigious honor recognizes some of the state’s most inspiring and influential individuals, groups, and organizations advancing girls’ and women’s sports. Peterson is among 11 honorees who will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in conjunction with the 40th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day.  

“I’m so grateful to the women who paved the way for me to have a career in coaching and teaching that was so successful and rewarding,” Peterson said. “And I’m grateful to the Minnesota National Girls and Women in Sports Day committee for the recognition. What’s special about this award is that it is celebrating what most long-term successful coaches really care about – not the wins, but the connection with PEOPLE. I have often said I think I was called to help young women grow their confidence and learn to not be afraid of high expectations. I’m so grateful that Central Lakes College became the place and volleyball was the vehicle to do that. It is this connection with former players that I cherish today. They are the ones who showed up every day with open eyes, ears, hearts and minds to grow into teammates and become winners. I did not score a single point in any game, but being alongside young women to help guide them in discovering who they are meant to be and what they are capable of accomplishing is hopefully something I can continue to do.” 

Peterson’s impact on women’s athletics spans decades and began in the early post-Title IX era. Growing up in La Jolla, Calif., she saw firsthand the inequities in girls’ and women’s sports — practicing in subpar facilities and entering a field where coaching wasn’t yet seen as a viable professional path for women. Despite these barriers, she broke through. As the first female student-athlete from La Jolla High School to receive a collegiate athletic scholarship, Peterson went on to play volleyball for the College of William and Mary, earning ECAC All-Tournament honors in 1984 and ECAC MVP in 1985.  

After earning her degree in economics, Peterson discovered her passion for teaching and coaching at Wayland Academy in Wisconsin. She then completed her master’s degree in athletic administration at St. Cloud State University before joining Central Lakes College in 1991 — a decision that would shape the next 33 years of her life and transform CLC volleyball into a national powerhouse.  

During her remarkable tenure, Peterson led the Raiders to 737 wins, 18 conference titles, 17 Region 13B championships, and three NJCAA Division III national titles (2000, 2001, 2007). She coached 31 All-Americans, earned NJCAA National Coach of the Year honors three times, and was named AVCA Two-Year College Coach of the Year in 2007. She is one of just 10 coaches in NJCAA history to reach 700 wins and, in 2025, received the NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award, reserved for the association’s all-time winningest leaders.  

Peterson’s influence extended far beyond the court. She expanded CLC’s volleyball offerings with camps, clinics, and summer leagues, and partnered with the CLC Office of Equity & Inclusion and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe youth programs to launch a Girls Empowerment Institute. Her career has been celebrated through inductions into the William & Mary Athletic Hall of Fame (2005), NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame (2012), and Minnesota College Athletic Conference Hall of Fame (2024).  

Peterson will be honored at the 2026 National Girls & Women in Sports Day–MN Celebration, where Minnesota’s leaders in advancing opportunities for girls and women in sports will be recognized. 

About National Girls & Women in Sports Day – Minnesota National Girls & Women in Sports Day-MN is organized by the Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership, a volunteer group whose mission is to advocate for Title IX by celebrating and commemorating Minnesota individuals and organizations that inspire the participation of girls and women in sports. The 2026 National Girls & Women in Sports Day-MN celebration will take place on Wednesday, February 4 th at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, Minn. Exhibits will open at 11 a.m. and the honoree event will begin at 12 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about National Girls & Women in Sports Day-MN and the 2026 event, visit www.ngwsd-mn.com