Buzz Peterson

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Buzz Peterson
Peterson in 2012
Biographical details
Born (1963-05-17) May 17, 1963 (age 60)
Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
1981–1985North Carolina
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1987–1989Appalachian State (assistant)
1989–1990East Tennessee State (assistant)
1990–1993NC State (assistant)
1993–1996Vanderbilt (assistant)
1996–2000Appalachian State
2000–2001Tulsa
2001–2005Tennessee
2005–2007Coastal Carolina
2009–2010Appalachian State
2010–2014UNC Wilmington
Head coaching record
Overall267–227
Tournaments0–1 (NCAA Division I)
5–2 (NIT)
2–1 (CIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NIT (2001)
SoCon tournament (2000)
3 SoCon regular season (1998–2000)
Awards
2× SoCon Coach of the Year (1998, 2000)

Robert Bower "Buzz" Peterson Jr. (born May 17, 1963) is an American basketball executive who is the assistant general manager for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has also coached college basketball, most recently as the head coach of the UNC Wilmington Seahawks men's basketball team.[1] He was fired by UNC Wilmington at the conclusion of the 2014 season.[2] Peterson was the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team for four years before being fired in 2005.[3] He previously coached a second stint at Appalachian State[4]—he coached the 2009–10 Mountaineers, as well as the 1996 to 2000 squads.[5] Previously, he was the men's basketball head coach at the University of Tulsa and at Coastal Carolina University, a position he held until mid-2007, when he left the program to be executive (Director of Player Personnel) with the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA.[6][7]

Peterson, a standout at Asheville High School, was named the 1981 high school player of the year in North Carolina over Michael Jordan.[8] He was named both a McDonald's and Parade All-American.[9] He played basketball for Dean Smith at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a roommate of Jordan, who later was best man at Peterson's wedding. Peterson was a member of the Tar Heels team that won the 1982 national championship.[8] He was later drafted in 1985 by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the seventh round of that year's NBA draft, but chose to play overseas.[9]

In his first stint as head coach at Appalachian State, he led the Mountaineers to the Southern Conference Tournament Championship during the 1999–2000 season. During his single season at Tulsa, 2000–01, Peterson led the Golden Hurricane to their second NIT championship.

Peterson was a special adviser to basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets in 2016–17. In June 2017, he was promoted to assistant general manager.[9] In 2018, Peterson became the interim general manager for the Hornets when Rich Cho was fired by the team.[10][11] The position was permanently filled near the end of the season by former Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak.

Head coaching record[edit]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Appalachian State Mountaineers (Southern Conference) (1996–2000)
1996–97 Appalachian State 14–14 8–6 3rd (North)
1997–98 Appalachian State 21–8 13–2 T–1st (North)
1998–99 Appalachian State 21–8 13–3 1st (North)
1999–00 Appalachian State 23–9 13–3 1st (North) NCAA Division I Round of 64
Appalachian State: 79–39 47–14
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (Western Athletic Conference) (2000–2001)
2000–01 Tulsa 26–11 10–6 T–2nd NIT champion
Tulsa: 26–11 10–6
Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (2001–2005)
2001–02 Tennessee 15–16 7–9 4th (Eastern)
2002–03 Tennessee 17–12 9–7 4th (Eastern) NIT First Round
2003–04 Tennessee 15–14 7–9 T–5th (Eastern) NIT First Round
2004–05 Tennessee 14–17 6–10 5th (Eastern)
Tennessee: 61–59 29–35
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (Big South Conference) (2005–2007)
2005–06 Coastal Carolina 20–10 12–4 T–2nd
2006–07 Coastal Carolina 15–15 7–7 4th
Coastal Carolina: 35–25 19–11
Appalachian State Mountaineers (Southern Conference) (2009–2010)
2009–10 Appalachian State 24–13 13–5 1st (North) CIT Semifinal
Appalachian State: 103–52 60–19
UNC Wilmington Seahawks (Colonial Athletic Association) (2010–2014)
2010–11 UNC Wilmington 13–17 7–11 8th
2011–12 UNC Wilmington 10–20 5–13 T–8th
2012–13 UNC Wilmington 10–20 5–13 9th
2013–14 UNC Wilmington 9–23 3–13 9th
UNC Wilmington: 42–80 20–50
Total: 267–227

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References[edit]

  1. ^ "UNCW Coach Buzz Peterson: "Ready to put down roots" - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC". Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  2. ^ "Seahawks Part Ways with Peterson".
  3. ^ AP (March 13, 2005). "Peterson fired after four years at Tennessee". USA Today. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  4. ^ "Peterson Returns as Appalachian Men's Basketball Coach". GoASU. April 29, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  5. ^ Four jobs later, Buzz Peterson returns to Appalachian State Mountaineers - ESPN
  6. ^ Peterson rejoins old friend Jordan with Bobcats - NBA - ESPN
  7. ^ Charlotte Bobcats (June 18, 2007). "More Members Added To Basketball Operations Staff". Bobcats.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  8. ^ a b Bonnell, Rick (July 6, 2017). "Charlotte Hornets name Buzz Peterson assistant general manager". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Asheville's Buzz Peterson promoted by NBA's Hornets". Citizen Times. July 6, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  10. ^ "Hornets to Not Extend Contract of GM Rich Cho". Charlotte Hornets. February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  11. ^ Reed, Steve (February 20, 2018). "Struggling Charlotte Hornets fire general manager Rich Cho". NBA.com. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
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