Buzz Peterson wants

to ‘energize’ program
By Steve Behr

When all of the details were worked out, Buzz Peterson gladly accepted the position of head men’s basketball coach two weeks ago. Now that he’s had a chance to settle into the job, he wants to do more than win games.

Peterson talked about energizing the program when he was formally introduced to the media and boosters of the program Monday at a press conference at the Broyhill Conference Center.

Peterson replaced his friend and former assistant Houston Fancher, who was fired on March 16.

He said he wants the Mountaineers to return to the top of the Southern Conference as they were in 2000 when they won the SoCon Tournament and went to the NCAA Tournament.

“I want to get us back to the top again,” Peterson said. “I want us to be competing for the conference championship every year. ...I want to make people proud of men’s basketball in the classroom, in the community and on the floor. Our job is to get us on top again. Like the Xaviers and the Gonzagas of the world, I want people to talk about Appalachian State University the same way on the basketball side.”

Part of the plan is to increase attendance at the games. The Mountaineers averaged 2,346 fans at the 8,325-seat Holmes Center.

One of the games, the Mountaineers’ 70-52 loss to Davidson, was a record sellout crowd of 8,350 fans, who flocked to see possible NBA lottery draft pick Stephen Curry. However, the only other sellout in Holmes Center history was opening night in 2000 when North Carolina beat ASU.

“That’s the challenge,” Peterson said. “About 15 or 20 percent of coaching is on the court. The rest is you’ve got to go out and sell and that’s what I’ve got to do. I’ve got to put my face in front of the students and tell them that this is your team. I want them to walk away proud of what these young men have displayed on the floor.”

He said that he wants the crowd to play a role in winning games at Appalachian State by showing its support.

“When you come over 3,000 feet and above, it’s going to be rowdy. It’s going to be tough to beat us,” Peterson said.

Peterson already has a record of winning at Appalachian State. His Mountaineers went 79-39 from 1996-2000 and reached the NCAA Tournament his final season.

He’s also coached at Tulsa, Tennessee and Coastal Carolina before becoming the director of player personnel with the Charlotte Bobcats the last two seasons. Peterson, who signed a five-year deal with $177,500 plus incentives per season, will keep an apartment in Boone and commute from his home in Union County until his oldest daughter graduates from high school next year.

He said that when he took over the program in 1996, he was looking to climb the coaching ladder of success. However, after working five jobs in 13 years, he said he’s ready to stay put in Boone.

“I’ve learned a lot in those 13 years,” Peterson said. “I can’t believe it’s gone by so fast. At that time you’re young and you’re trying to make that quick trip up there. Now I have an opportunity to make a difference at Appalachian.”