Chris Petersen abruptly stepping down as Washington’s coach Monday came as shocking news. But maybe it shouldn’t have been. He’s always done things differently than the rest of his profession.



He was a coach who led Boise State to an undefeated record and stunning Fiesta Bowl upset of Oklahoma in his first year as a head coach, then stayed there for another seven seasons rather than hopping up the ladder. When he did finally leave after posting a remarkable 92-12 record, it wasn’t for a USC or a Tennessee but rather Washington, a then-irrelevant program nationally that just seemed to fit him better.



He was a coach who was mostly reclusive with the media, preferring the relative anonymity of pro sports market Seattle than a small college town where he’d be front page news every day. You never saw Petersen do one of those ESPN coaches film rooms for the national title game or let the cameras in for some all-access segment.



He was a...