Arkansas-Little Rock athletic director Chris Peterson resigned Wednesday, after a recording was discovered in which he made inappropriate comments about the mother of a Trojans student-athlete.
Channel 7 News in Little Rock obtained a video of a webcast during UALR's women's soccer game against Chicago State on Aug. 22.
In the video, Peterson says of a UALR player's mother: "Much curvier ... yeah ... she had her [edited] hanging out, too. You remember that? I got to make sure I don't ... I gotta make sure we know when Parents Day is. I want to make sure I'm in town for the weekend...She had two of them and they were out there for display..."
Peterson subsequently tendered his resignation, effective September 15th, saying in a statement: "On Friday August 22nd I made insensitive remarks while visiting with some athletic department employees at a soccer game. My comments were picked up by an open microphone, unknowingly, making a private conversation public. I have apologized to the parties that may have been offended by my remarks and fully acknowledge my words were insensitive and out of line. I've learned a hard lesson. As I close this chapter, I know going forward that I'll be more thoughtful, sensitive and conscientious of my actions."
Chancellor Joel Anderson released a statement saying, in part, "What one hears from the Director of Athletics on the live video transmission of the women's soccer game on August 22 is unacceptable for a person in a University leadership position. Director Peterson apologized for it and resigned. I am grateful for his contributions to the University and to the UALR Department of Athletics, and I wish him the best in his future endeavors."
Peterson began his tenure as athletic director at UALR in 2000.