Like Father, Like Son – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Buckeye Danny Peters is preparing to follow in his father’s footsteps
By Stacey Freyer, Ohio State Athletics Communications
Many young boys dream of growing up to be like their dad. For Ohio State junior Danny Peters, his dream of following in his fathers footsteps has become clearer with his father right by his side.
Danny was born with basketball in his blood. Since he was a newborn, he has watched his father, Dan Peters, coach collegiate basketball at six different institutions, most recently at the University of Cincinnati. Watching his father recruit, coach and travel gave Danny inspiration to do the same.
With his father’s guidance, Danny began taking in all aspects of the sport. As a child, Danny would attend his father’s practices and after the team was finished with drills, he would shoot free throws as the determining factor on whether the team would have to run.
Through junior high, high school and into college, basketball was Danny’s passion and he would look for any way to be around the sport. He knew eventually his playing days would end and coaching was a way to stay involved.
After his father began working with the Buckeyes four years ago, Danny knew Ohio State would be his college of choice after graduation and an opportunity to gain knowledge for his future.
“When I was younger it was an unsaid thing that I would always end up wherever my father was,” Danny said. “It came to be that Ohio State would be that place and basketball would be what we would do together.”
Danny became the team manager during his freshman year. It was his way of working with his father and experiencing basketball from different angles. Being involved was Danny’s main goal. Then, one year later he was given an opportunity to take part in the program as a player. That became yet another chance to gain another perspective into collegiate basketball.
Now in his junior year, Danny is using each practice, game and film session to improve his teammates, self and future.
“You look at practice because it’s when everything gets explained,” Danny said. “You have to learn if you can run different things and which things you feel most comfortable with. You need to take those and identify what you like about them, so you can learn all the different parts to help other people. The game is learning different situations; what you would do when and where.”
At the end of the day Danny often stays over to talk with his father about not only the team, but the coaching staff, as well. From practice or film the two will look at each other’s view points and ideas as a way to continue improving the team.
Danny has learned not only from his father, but from the rest of the coaching staff and head coach Thad Matta. The staff helps develop new concepts for Danny to handle situations on the court, new ways to run practice, recruiting and how to affectively work with different personalities.
“What Danny is doing is great preparation for him to become a college basketball coach,” Matta said. “That is, being around the program every day, being a part of learning everything we are doing from not only ourselves but also scouting the opponents. He’s involved in recruiting and helping us get the feel of that aspect of what goes into it. We are just trying to help him shape his mind to become a coach. ”
Not only is Danny preparing on the court and from his coaches, but in the classroom, as well. The special education major uses lessons he learns on how to use gradual steps to gain understanding and apply it to basketball. That experience gives him more insight on how to work through problems and help people.
Through his experience and knowledge, Danny will look to find a coaching job after graduation. Whether it is working as a full-time coach or volunteering, he will be happy either way.
For now, Danny will continue to take each day in stride. It gives him a chance to improve and learn, while he is enjoying his time and living a dream as a Buckeye.
