Margaret Peters, a former basketball and track standout at Central Catholic High School in Ohio, died on Monday, July 6, at the age of 63 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
During her high school years she amassed 11 varsity letters, scored 1,123 points, led the Crusaders to a Class AA state runner‑up finish, and captured a state long‑jump title as a sophomore, later finishing as runner‑up as a senior.
A Hall of Fame Career
After earning a basketball scholarship to Youngstown State University, Peters averaged 12.1 points as a sophomore and was elected to the university’s Hall of Fame in 1994. She returned to Central Catholic to teach biology and chemistry while serving as an assistant coach for both basketball and track.
In 2000 she succeeded Kyle Dureska as head coach of the girls basketball program at Jackson High School, compiling a 174‑112 record over 13 seasons and teaching science courses for 28 years before retiring.
Peters’ brother Dan, also a basketball coach, preceded her in death. Tributes highlight her role as a mentor and pioneer for young women in Ohio sports.