Herman Peters joins SPRD staff

December 7, 2011

Herman Peters is the new sports coordinator at the Starkville Parks and Recreation Department. (Photo by Lee Adams, SDN)

One basketball coach follows another as the sports coordinator of the Starkville Park and Recreation Department.
SPRD director Matthew Rye has announced the hiring of Herman Peters to take the place of retiring Sammy Willcutt.
Peters has had experience as a basketball coach, most recently working with the boys team at West Lowndes High School.
He believes working with young people at the high school level will help in his new position at SPRD.
"That will fall right into place with this," Peters said. "This will be a great experience for me working with sports. I love sports and I try to give 100 percent in whatever I do. I'm real excited about coming on board, getting involved and getting us out there more."
Rye, a former basketball coach himself, didn't know anything about Peters until he applied, but was impressed with his background.
"Coaches have a great quality about them," Rye said. "Wherever he's been, he's been successful. You talk to anybody in the surrounding community they say nothing but good things about the integrity he brings, the character he has, plus his organization skills and his administrative ability. Put all of that together and you have a pretty good skill set.
"We're excited about having him and I think he'll bring a lot of experience, knowledge and skill to the department."
Peters will primarily be working with high school basketball, adult basketball and adult softball during the summer.
Even though it's called retirement, Willcutt plans to continue to help the department on a part-time basis.
"Sammy will be helping in the office with sponsorships and helping the coordinators out," Rye said. "He won't be away completely and help will help us manage the gym part of the facility for those who walk in."