Mike Petersen (basketball)

Mike Petersen
Atlanta Dream
PositionAdvisor
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1958-04-18) April 18, 1958 (age 66)
Eureka, California, U.S.
Career information
High schoolEureka
(Eureka, California)
College
Coaching career1980–2015, 2017–2021
Career history
As coach:
1980–1983Northwest Christian (assistant)
1983–1985Oregon (women's) (assistant)
1985–1989Gonzaga (women's)
1989–1992Oregon (assistant)
1992–1996New Mexico State (women's)
1996–1999TCU (women's)
1999–2000Minnesota (assistant)
2000–2004Minnesota (associate HC)
2004–2012Wake Forest (women's)
2012–2015North Texas (women's)
20172020Atlanta Dream (assistant)
2021Atlanta Dream (interim)
Career highlights and awards
  • WCC regular season champion (1988)
  • Big West regular season champion (1995)
Career coaching record
WNBA6–13 (.316)
NCAA341–311 (.523)

Mike Petersen (born April 18, 1958) is a former head coach for the Atlanta Dream in 2021. Before joining the Women's National Basketball Association, Petersen coached five women's college basketball teams between the 1980s to 2010s. While Petersen coached the Wake Forest Demon Deacons women's basketball team for eight years, his players competed in the 2005 Women's National Invitation Tournament and reached the third round. Additional teams he coached were for Gonzaga, New Mexico State, TCU and North Texas. Overall, Petersen had 341 wins and 311 losses in the NCAA.

In men's college basketball, Petersen was an assistant coach for Northwest Christian College, Oregon and Minnesota. During the late 2010s, he was part of the National Basketball Association as a scout for the New Orleans Pelicans. Petersen moved to the WNBA in 2017 when he became an assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream. After being selected as interim head coach in May 2021 for the Dream, Petersen ended his position in July 2021 due to his personal health. Following his 6 wins and 13 losses, Petersen stayed with the Dream as an advisor.