[3] He then attended Montclair State Teachers College, where he played basketball, threw the javelin in track and field, and was captain of the football team.
After earning his master's degree, Peck was commissioned a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
[5] In 1955, Peck joined the staff of Bates College as a physical education instructor and head basketball and tennis coach.
[5] He left the school after one year but returned in 1958 after earning his doctorate in physical education from Columbia University's Teachers College.
During his tenure, the school started construction on a new athletic complex (the Harold Case Physical Education Center), resurfaced Nickerson Field with AstroTurf, and introduced new sports, including wrestling.
However, he was opposed by a group of Harvard athletes and alumni who wanted the job to go to Baaron Pittenger or John P.