by ROB JENKINS
Sports Reporter

This morning Buzz Peterson was introduced as Appalachian State University’s new men’s head basketball coach.

“It’s wonderful [to be back at Appalachian],” Peterson said via teleconference. “I’m very excited. For me, the urge to coach again and restart my coaching career where it began was so attractive. The opportunity to work on a day-to-day basis with student athletes was something that I really wanted to be a part of.”

Peterson previously coached Appalachian from 1996-97 to 1999-00, compiling a 79-39 record including a 47-14 record in Southern Conference play.

In 1999-00 Peterson led the Mountaineers to the SoCon Tournament championship and automatic birth in the NCAA Tournament.

“What I’d like to do is restore App State to our rightful place atop the SoCon,” Peterson said.

Since leaving Appalachian, Peterson had stints as the head coach of the University of Tulsa, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Coastal Carolina University.

Most recently Peterson was the Director of Player Personnel for the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats. 

Peterson was offered the job initially earlier this month but turned it down, saying it was “bad timing.”

“I did have a very attractive job in the NBA, it was good living,” Peterson said. “I have three school-age kids that are very comfortable, and we’ve moved quite a bit. This was a decision I didn’t take very lightly.”

Appalachian Athletics Director Charlie Cobb was pleased with the hire.

“After a very thorough search, there is no doubt that Buzz Peterson is the right person to lead our men’s basketball program,” Cobb said in a press release published today. “In his previous stint at Appalachian, he brought unprecedented success and excitement to the program and to the University.”

Peterson’s contract is a five-year deal worth $177,500 a year plus incentives.

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