Erik Peterson will be the first head coach in TCU sand volleyball history, according to a press release from TCU Athletics.

TCU Director of Volleyball Jill Kramer announced the decision to hire Peterson Monday.

“From the moment I began looking at the Director of Volleyball position at TCU, I knew Erik was the right fit to become the first sand volleyball coach in the history of our program,” Kramer said in the release.

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“Erik is a well-trusted colleague and friend. He is very well versed in sand volleyball as a coach and player, with strong ties in Hawaii, Florida and California, as well as being very familiar with recruiting in the North Texas region and the Big 12 Conference.

Peterson has been involved with USA Sand Volleyball since 2007 and served as University of Central Florida’s head coach from 2009 to 2012.

“First off I would like to thank Jill Kramer, Chris Del Conte and Chancellor Boschini for allowing me the opportunity to join the TCU athletics family,” Peterson said in the release.

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“To be able to step in on the ground floor of TCU’s sand volleyball program is truly a blessing and I am excited to get the team out on the sand to start training.

At UCF, Peterson led the Knights to back-to-back first place finishes at the 2010 and 2011 Fiesta on Siesta Collegiate Coaches Cup.

The sand volleyball team opens its inagural season with a matchup against the Arizona Wildcats on March 6.