Peterson: Decision was difficult

By: By Tommy Bowman | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: April 20, 2010

Buzz Peterson said yesterday that his decision to leave Appalachian State after one season back as head coach was the most difficult decision that he has ever made.

But, in the end, Peterson said, he felt he had to take the UNC Wilmington job for financial reasons.

"It was one of those things where I had to do what was best for my family," said Peterson, who was named UNCW's coach on Friday.

Peterson made about $220,000 last season at ASU. He stands to make $435,000 in his first year at UNCW.

"The situation we've been in is we haven't been able to sell homes, I have them at different locations, and I had to do what was best," Peterson said.

Peterson said that he went to his wife and his father for guidance in making the decision, but said that it wasn't an easy one.

"It just killed me to think about the kids there at App, because they busted their butts for me this past year," Peterson said. "And Dr. (Ken) Peacock (ASU's chancellor) gave me that opportunity to coach again. It was hard to turn away from."

Peterson began his coaching career as an assistant at ASU in 1987, and was hired as a head coach for the first time by ASU in 1996.

He moved on to Tulsa in 2000, became Tennessee's coach in 2001 and, after being fired there, coached at Coastal Carolina for two seasons beginning in 2005 before leaving and taking a job as director of player personnel for the Charlotte Bobcats in 2007. He returned to coaching last season at ASU, replacing his former assistant Houston Fancher.

Peterson said that he is aware that he didn't endear himself to Appalachian State fans by leaving his second term as coach after one season.

"I understand that, people being upset, but, again, I've got to look at my kids and my wife and I've got to do what's best for them…," Peterson said. "I took a $100,000 pay cut to take the job in the first place. It's like a lot of things going on right now, it's not the easiest times out there financially in this world. I hate to use finances for something that you're doing, but I would ask a person if he got paid double for doing the same job, ‘What would you do?'

"I do understand the loyalty part, and that's what kills me. Those guys, they are good kids. When I got the job Houston told me, ‘Buzz, they are good kids.' And he was dead-on right. They are good kids."

tbowman@wsjournal.com.

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