Mike Petersen (basketball)

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Mike Petersen

| embed =

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| team = Atlanta Dream

| position = Advisor

| league = WNBA

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|04|18|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Eureka, California, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft =

| height_in =

| weight_lb =

| high_school = Eureka
(Eureka, California)

| college = {{plainlist|

College of the Redwoods (1976–1978)
Northwest Christian (1978–1980)

}}

| career_position =

| coach_start = 1980

| coach_end = 2015, 2017–2021

| cyears1 = 1980–1983

| cteam1 = Northwest Christian (assistant)

| cyears2 = 1983–1985

| cteam2 = Oregon (women's) (assistant)

| cyears3 = 1985–1989

| cteam3 = Gonzaga (women's)

| cyears4 = 1989–1992

| cteam4 = Oregon (assistant)

| cyears5 = 1992–1996

| cteam5 = New Mexico State (women's)

| cyears6 = 1996–1999

| cteam6 = TCU (women's)

| cyears7 = 1999–2000

| cteam7 = Minnesota (assistant)

| cyears8 = 2000–2004

| cteam8 = Minnesota (associate HC)

| cyears9 = 2004–2012

| cteam9 = Wake Forest (women's)

| cyears10 = 2012–2015

| cteam10 = North Texas (women's)

| cyears11 = {{WNBA Year|2017}}–{{WNBA Year|2020}}

| cteam11 = Atlanta Dream (assistant)

| cyears12 = {{WNBA Year|2021}}

| cteam12 = Atlanta Dream (interim)

| highlights =

WCC regular season champion (1988)
Big West regular season champion (1995)

| cstats_league1 = WNBA

| cwin1 = 6

| closs1 = 13

| cstats_league2 = NCAA

| cwin2 = 341

| closs2 = 311

| medal_templates =

}}

Mike Petersen (born April 18, 1958) is an American former head coach for the Atlanta Dream in 2021. Before joining the Women's National Basketball Association, Petersen coached five women's college basketball teams between the 1980s to 2010s. While Petersen coached the Wake Forest Demon Deacons women's basketball team for eight years, his players competed in the 2005 Women's National Invitation Tournament and reached the third round. Additional teams he coached were for Gonzaga, New Mexico State, TCU and North Texas. Overall, Petersen had 341 wins and 311 losses in the NCAA.

In men's college basketball, Petersen was an assistant coach for Northwest Christian College, Oregon and Minnesota. During the late 2010s, he was part of the National Basketball Association as a scout for the New Orleans Pelicans. Petersen moved to the WNBA in 2017 when he became an assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream. After being selected as interim head coach in May 2021 for the Dream, Petersen ended his position in July 2021 due to his personal health. Following his 6 wins and 13 losses, Petersen stayed with the Dream as an advisor.

Early life and education

Petersen was born in Eureka, California on April 18, 1958.{{cite web |title=Mike Petersen at a Glance |url=https://godeacs.com/story.aspx?filename=MIKE_PETERSEN_AT_A_GLANCE&file_date=4/2/2004 |website=Wake Forest University Athletics |access-date=August 23, 2021 |date=April 2, 2004}} While attending high school, Petersen was on the baseball and basketball teams.{{cite news |last1=Clauusen |first1=Zach |title=Experienced Petersen ready to take UNT to next level |url=https://www.ntdaily.com/experienced-petersen-ready-to-take-unt-to-next-level/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |work=North Texas Daily |date=April 27, 2012}} From 1976 to 1980, Petersen played basketball for two years at College of the Redwoods before playing an additional two years at Northwest Christian College.{{cite web |last1=Russo |first1=Kelsey |title=Assistant coach Mike Petersen adds experience, positive outlook to Dream |url=https://theathletic.com/1157101/2019/08/23/assistant-coach-mike-petersen-adds-experience-positive-outlook-to-dream/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=October 16, 2021 |date=August 23, 2019}}

At Redwoods, Petersen was the team's captain for a season before he left for Northwest Christian.{{cite web |last1=Vito |first1=Brett |title=Mike Petersen: Team Player |url=https://bushnellbeacons.com/news/2012/11/13/mbb_1113123306.aspx |website=Bushnell University Athletics |access-date=July 24, 2022 |date=November 13, 2012}} During his playing career at Northwest Christian, Petersen held the points per game season record in 1980 and was named the Most Valuable Player for the college that year.{{Cite press release|title=Bushnell University Men's Basketball Record Book|date=October 30, 2021|publisher=Bushnell University|url=https://bushnellbeacons.com/documents/2021/8/30//Record_Book_MBB.pdf?id=371|pages=9, 31}} Petersen remained at Northwest Christian until he completed his biblical studies program in 1983.

Career

=1980s to mid 2000s=

While at Northwest Christian, Petersen was an assistant coach for their men's basketball team from 1980 to 1983. He continued his assistant coach experience with the

Oregon Ducks women's basketball for two years.{{cite web |title=North Texas Names Mike Petersen Head Coach |url=https://meangreensports.com/news/2012/4/16/North_Texas_Names_Mike_Petersen_Head_Coach |website=University of North Texas Athletics |access-date=October 17, 2021 |date=April 16, 2012}} As the head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs women's basketball between 1985 and 1989, Petersen's team first played in the NAIA.{{cite news |title=Zag's women's coaching joining Butler staff |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=May 10, 1989 |page=D5}} Following their move to the NCAA Division I in 1987, Petersen and Gonzaga was first in the 1988 West Coast Athletic Conference.{{cite news |last1=Orlard |first1=David |title=It's time to wait and hope for GU |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=March 1, 1988 |page=C2}}

Upon ending his tenure with Gonzaga in 1989, Petersen had 65 wins and 48 losses.{{cite web |title=Monson Names Two Members of Basketball Staff |url=https://gophersports.com/news/1999/7/28/MONSON_NAMES_TWO_MEMBERS_OF_BASKETBALL_STAFF.aspx |website=University of Minnesota Athletics |access-date=October 15, 2021 |date=July 28, 1999}} After Petersen left Gonzaga in order to become an assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Butler University, he was chosen as an assistant coach with Oregon in June 1989.{{cite news |title=UO gets assistant |work=Statesman Journal |date=June 7, 1989 |location=Salem, Oregon |page=4D}} From 1989 to 1992, Petersen was an assistant coach on the Oregon Ducks men's basketball team.{{cite web |title=Mike Petersen To Lead Wake Forest Women's Basketball Program |date=April 2, 2004 |website=Wake Forest University Athletics |url=https://godeacs.com/news/2004/4/2/Mike_Petersen_To_Lead_Wake_Forest_Women_s_Basketball_Program |access-date=October 22, 2021}} A month after joining the New Mexico State Roadrunners women's basketball team as an assistant coach, Petersen became their head coach in September 1992.{{cite news |title=Roadrunners coach |work=El Paso Times |date=September 5, 1992 |page=4C}}{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Gary |title=Young 'Runners Open Season With Optimism, New Coach |work=Albuquerque Journal |date=November 5, 1992 |page=C4}}

While with New Mexico State until 1996, the school reached the semifinals at the Big West Conference women's basketball tournament four times.{{cite web |title=Mike Petersen |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/people/25489?sport_code=WBB |website=NCAA Statistics |access-date=November 21, 2023}}{{cite web |title=Women's Basketball Championship History |url=https://bigwest.org/sports/2022/8/28/wbb-big-west-championship-history.aspx |website=Big West Conference |access-date=November 21, 2023 |date=August 28, 2022}} Petersen and his team finished in sixth at the 1994 National Women's Invitational Tournament.{{cite news |title=Gonzaga falls 83–63 to Aggies |work=The Spokesman-Review |agency=Association Press |date=March 26, 1994 |page=C2}}{{cite news |title=Corcoran sparks Oklahoma to win |work=The Central New Jersey Home News |agency=The Associated Press |date=March 28, 1994 |page=D4}} As a Women's National Invitation Tournament competitor, Petersen and New Mexico State reached the first round of the 1995 preseason event.{{cite web |title=1995 Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament |url=https://womensnit.com/documents/2019/3/4/1995_pre_bracket.pdf?id=73 |website=WNIT Pre and Post Tournament |access-date=October 22, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Henry |first1=Don |title=Lady Miners will find out plenty tonight |work=El Paso Times |date=November 24, 1995 |page=3E}} Petersen had 81 wins and 38 losses with New Mexico State.{{cite news |title=Petersen Named Women’s Basketball Coach at TCU |url=https://apnews.com/article/25667c48e74bfa619728640c9c0f076f |access-date=October 22, 2021 |work=Associated Press |date=April 12, 1996}}

In 1996, Petersen joined the TCU Lady Frogs women's basketball team as their head coach.{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Johnny |title=A fitting task |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=April 25, 1996 |at=sec. C p. 12}} As a WAC women's basketball tournament competitor, TCU were quarter-finalists in 1999.{{cite news |last1=Floyd |first1=Jennifer |title=TCU women bow in a hail of missed shots |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=March 4, 1999 |page=8D}} Petersen had 42 wins and 41 losses as their head coach. That year, Petersen joined the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team as an assistant coach.{{cite news |last1=La |first1=David |title=Monson’s staff anchored by new assistant coaches |url=https://mndaily.com/257957/uncategorized/monsons-staff-anchored-new-assistant-coaches/ |access-date=October 15, 2021 |work=The Minnesota Daily |date=November 4, 1999}} After becoming an associate head coach for the team in 2000, Petersen remained with Minnesota until 2004.{{Cite press release|title=Men's Basketball Staff Changes Set; Petersen Named Associated Head Coach; Couch Named Director of Operations|date=April 28, 2000|publisher=University of Minnesota Sports News |location=Minneapolis|url=https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/170068/Men_2000_April_July.pdf|access-date=October 15, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Petersen has women's head coaching experience |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1775630 |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=October 15, 2021 |date=April 4, 2004}}

=Mid 2000s to 2020s=

In 2004, Petersen became head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons women's basketball team.{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Rachel |title=Wake has high hopes |work=The News & Observer |date=October 28, 2004 |page=8C}} At the 2005 Women's National Invitation Tournament, Wake Forest reached the third round.{{cite news |title=Matching Record |work=The News & Observer |date=March 26, 2005 |page=13C}} They were also semifinalists at the 2012 ACC women's basketball tournament.{{cite news |last1=Beard |first1=Aaron |title=No. 6 Maryland women top Wake Forest |work=The Daily Times |date=March 4, 2012 |location=Salisbury, Maryland |pages=C1-C2}} Petersen had 125 wins and 123 losses after ending his position that year.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Dan |title=Women's coach Petersen leaving Wake Forest |url=https://journalnow.com/sports/college/womens-coach-petersen-leaving-wake-forest/article_02023e2c-4300-5a94-96c0-8c66cc38726f.html |access-date=October 15, 2021 |work=Winston-Salem Journal |date=April 17, 2012}}

In April 2012, Petersen replaced Karen Aston as the head coach of the North Texas Mean Green women's basketball team.{{cite web |title=UNT hires Wake's Mike Petersen |url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/story/_/id/7821349/north-texas-mean-green-hire-former-wake-forest-coach-mike-petersen |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=October 15, 2021 |date=April 16, 2012}} At the 2013 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball tournament, the school played one game.{{cite news |last1=Buckley |first1=Tim |title=UL women prevail |work=The Daily Advertiser |date=March 9, 2013 |page=4D}} That year, North Texas joined the Conference USA.{{cite web |title=North Texas Women's Basketball |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/history/WBB/497 |website=NCAA Statistics |access-date=November 21, 2023}} The team played one game at the 2014 Conference USA women's basketball tournament.{{cite news |last1=Bloomquist |first1=Bret |title=Louisiana Tech stifles UNT in 1st round |work=El Paso Times |date=March 12, 2014 |page=C3}}{{cite news |title=Women's hops |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=March 12, 2014 |page=7C}} Petersen had 28 wins and 61 losses with North Texas when his position ended in 2015.{{cite news |last1=Vito |first1=Brett |title=Breaking news — Petersen out at UNT |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/unt-mean-green/2015/03/10/breaking-news-petersen-out-at-unt/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=March 10, 2015}}

During the late 2010s, Petersen was a National Basketball Association scout as part of the New Orleans Pelicans before joining the Atlanta Dream in 2017.{{cite web |title=Dream Add Mike Petersen as Assistant Coach |url=https://dream.wnba.com/news/dream-add-mike-petersen-assistant-coach/ |website=Atlanta Dream |access-date=August 25, 2021 |date=December 21, 2017}} With the Women's National Basketball Association team, Petersen started out as an assistant coach before he was named the Dream's interim head coach in May 2021.{{cite news |title=Atlanta Dream assistant becomes surprise head coach after former coach bolts for Baylor |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/dream/2021/05/04/atlanta-mike-peterson-interim-head-coach-nicki-collen-baylor/4947749001/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |work=USA Today |publisher=The Associated Press |date=May 4, 2021}} During the 2021 WNBA season, Petersen had 6 wins and 13 losses before ending his coaching position in July 2021 due to his personal health. After being replaced by Darius Taylor, it was announced that Petersen would remain with the Dream as an advisor.{{cite news |last1=Sudge |first1=Brandon |title=Mike Petersen resigns as Dream coach, Darius Taylor assumes role |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/mike-petersen-resigns-as-dream-coach-darius-taylor-assumes-role/JI2XQV7IA5FIXNIYELDEWYOAPI/ |access-date=August 25, 2021 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=July 24, 2021}}

Head coaching record

=WNBA=

| align="left" | Atlanta

| align="left" | {{WNBA Year|2021}}

| 19 || 6 || 13 || {{winning percentage|6|13}} || (resigned) || — || — || — || — || —

=College=

{{CBB yearly record start | type = coach | conference = | postseason= }}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Gonzaga Bulldogs

| conference = no

| startyear = 1985

| endyear = 1986

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1985–86

| name = Gonzaga

| overall = 21–10

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Gonzaga Bulldogs

| conference = NCAA Division I Independent

| startyear = 1986

| endyear = 1987

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1986–87

| name = Gonzaga

| overall = 11–16

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Gonzaga Bulldogs

| conference = West Coast Conference

| startyear = 1987

| endyear = 1989

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship = conference

| season = 1987–88

| name = Gonzaga

| overall = 18–9

| conference = 11–3

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1988–89

| name = Gonzaga

| overall = 15–13

| conference = 11–3

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record subtotal

| name = Gonzaga

| overall = {{winning percentage|65|48|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winning percentage|22|6|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = New Mexico State Aggies

| conference = Big West Conference

| startyear = 1992

| endyear = 1996

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1992–93

| name = New Mexico State

| overall = 17–11

| conference = 11–7

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1993–94

| name = New Mexico State

| overall = 24–8

| conference = 14–4

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship = conference

| season = 1994–95

| name = New Mexico State

| overall = 20–9

| conference = 14–4

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NWIT Third Round

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1995–96

| name = New Mexico State

| overall = 20–10

| conference = 14–4

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record subtotal

| name = New Mexico State

| overall = {{winning percentage|81|38|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winning percentage|53|19|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = TCU Horned Frogs

| conference = Western Athletic Conference

| startyear = 1996

| endyear = 1999

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1996–97

| name = TCU

| overall = 13–14

| conference = 7–9

| confstanding = T–9th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1997–98

| name = TCU

| overall = 13–15

| conference = 4–10

| confstanding = T–12th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 1998–99

| name = TCU

| overall = 16–12

| conference = 7–7

| confstanding = T–8th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record subtotal

| name = TCU

| overall = {{winning percentage|42|41|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winning percentage|18|26|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Wake Forest Demon Deacons

| conference = Atlantic Coast Conference

| startyear = 2004

| endyear = 2012

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2004–05

| name = Wake Forest

| overall = 17–15

| conference = 3–11

| confstanding = 10th

| postseason = WNIT Third Round

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2005–06

| name = Wake Forest

| overall = 12–16

| conference = 3–11

| confstanding = 10th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2006–07

| name = Wake Forest

| overall = 9–20

| conference = 0–14

| confstanding = 12th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2007–08

| name = Wake Forest

| overall = 15–15

| conference = 2–12

| confstanding = 11th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2008–09

| name = Wake Forest

| overall = 19–12

| conference = 5–9

| confstanding = 9th

| postseason = WNIT Second Round

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2009–10

| name = Wake Forest

| overall = 18–14

| conference = 7–7

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2010–11

| name = Wake Forest

| overall = 15–17

| conference = 5–9

| confstanding = 9th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2011–12

| name = Wake Forest

| overall = 20–14

| conference = 7–9

| confstanding = T–7th

| postseason = WNIT First Round

}}

{{CBB yearly record subtotal

| name = Wake Forest

| overall = {{winning percentage|125|123|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winning percentage|32|82|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = North Texas Mean Green

| conference = Sun Belt Conference

| startyear = 2012

| endyear = 2013

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2012–13

| name = North Texas

| overall = 11–19

| conference = 10–10

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = North Texas Mean Green

| conference = Conference USA

| startyear = 2013

| endyear = 2015

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2013–14

| name = North Texas

| overall = 12–18

| conference = 6–10

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record entry

| championship =

| season = 2014–15

| name = North Texas

| overall = 5–24

| conference = 4–14

| confstanding =

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB yearly record subtotal

| name = North Texas

| overall = {{winning percentage|28|61|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winning percentage|20|34|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB yearly record end

| overall = {{winning percentage|341|311|record=y}}

}}

Honors and personal life

Petersen became part of a hall of fame for Northwest Christian College in 2007.{{cite web |title=Mike Petersen (2007) – Bushnell University Athletic Hall of Fame |url=https://bushnellbeacons.com/honors/bushnell-university-athletic-hall-of-fame/mike-petersen/2 |website=Bushnell University Athletics |access-date=August 25, 2021}}{{cite news |title=It's official: Northwest Christian University is now Bushnell University |url=https://nbc16.com/news/local/its-official-northwest-christian-university-is-now-bushnell-university |access-date=August 25, 2021 |work=KMTR |date=July 1, 2020 |location=Springfield, Oregon}} He is married and has two children.