UNCW Coach Buzz Peterson: "Ready to put down roots" - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - The longest coaching search in Division one basketball has come to an end, and it's creating quite a buzz around Wilmington and the nation.

UNCW introduced Buzz Peterson as the next coach of the men's basketball team Friday afternoon.

Peterson was approved by the Board of Trustees during an emergency meeting at 9:30 a.m.  He most recently was head coach of Appalachian State.  Peterson said the deal came together quickly, within the last 48 hours.

"We're ready to put down roots somewhere," Buzz Peterson said to applause in the Seahawk room Friday.  Peterson pre-empted questions about his frequent moves in the coaching business with the announcement that he's tired of moving.

Peterson said he's retaining interim head coach Brooks Lee as a member of his staff, because it's good to have someone who knows the team to help bring him up to speed.

Peterson's immediate concern is recruiting.  He plans to hit the road immediately.

"I need a credit card and I need a cell phone," Peterson said when talking about hitting the recruiting trail.

Peterson said it was a tough call to his team at Appalachian State today to let them know he was leaving, but he says it's part of coaching.

"Hopefully that will never happen for a long time," Peterson said.

Friday's announcement ends 79 days of searching for UNCW Athletic Director Kelly Mehrtens who re-assigned Benny Moss with nine games remaining in the regular season.

Mehrtens said she wanted to wait until after the CAA tournament to start the search for a coach, so she could meet with the student-athletes.

In 12 seasons as a collegiate head coach Peterson has won at least 20 games six times and owns only two losing records.

Peterson was also the Charlotte Bobcats director of player personnel before heading back to Boone for a second stint with the Mountaineers.

Basketball head coaching record

1996–1997 Appalachian State 14–14 8–6 3rd (North)

1997–1998 Appalachian State 21–8 13–2 T–1st (North)

1998–1999 Appalachian State 21–8 13–3 1st (North)

1999–2000 Appalachian State 23–9 13–3 1st (North) NCAA 1st Round

2000–2001 Tulsa 26–11 10–6 NIT Champions

2001–2002 Tennessee 15–16 7–9

2002–2003 Tennessee 17–12 9–7 NIT 1st Round

2003–2004 Tennessee 15–14 7–9 NIT 1st Round

2004–2005 Tennessee 14–17 6–10

2005–2006 Coastal Carolina 20–10 12–4

2006–2007 Coastal Carolina 15–15 7–7

2010–2011 UNC Wilmington

Total: 221–145