Elon University Athletics

A coaching veteran of 39 years, Jerry Petercuskie joined the Elon staff as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in January 2014. Petercuskie had previously spent six seasons at North Carolina State University as that program’s special teams coach and recruiting coordinator. 

Petercuskie’s first season at Elon saw three Phoenix defensive players collect All-CAA Football accolades. His linebacker unit produced the team’s first CAA Football Player of the Week in senior Odell Benton in 2014.

In his time at NC State (2007-12), the Wolfpack reached four bowl games. Petercuskie tutored return specialist T.J. Graham to first-team All-ACC honors in 2011 as he set new school and league marks for most career kickoff return yards (3,153). He also coached Steven Hauschka who was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. 

Prior to his time with NC State, Petercuskie spent 10 seasons as the recruiting coordinator and special teams coach at Boston College (1997-2006). While there, the 2006 BC squad rated fourth nationally in kickoff returns. Petercuskie coached Will Blackmon who finished second on the NCAA’s all-time kick return yardage list, earned All-ACC honorable mention honors in 2005 and second-team All-Big East accolades in 2004. During Petercuskie’s tenure, BC reached eight bowl games. 

Petercuskie spent two seasons coaching the defensive tackles at the University of Virginia (1995-96) and has previous experience as a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Liberty University (1989-94). He has also coached on staffs at Rutgers University (1983-88) and Brown University (1978-82). Petercuskie was a graduate assistant at Penn State University (1976-77) and a part-time offensive assistant at Trenton State College (1975). 

Over the course of his career, Petercuskie has coached 14 players who have gone on to professional playing careers. 

A former center at Boston College, Petercuskie earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from BC in 1975.  He earned his master’s degree in counseling from Penn State in 1977. 

Petercuskie and his wife, Karen, have three adult children – John, Mark and Alexandria. 

A Word on Petercuskie:

"Jerry Petercuskie is a very good communicator and an excellent football coach. His players will be well-prepared, play hard and execute. But most importantly, he cares about each and every individual player. Jerry wants to see them become the best student and person they can be. He takes a great interest in them as a student-athlete."

- Tom O'Brien, University of Virginia associate head football coach