| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 28, 1910 Pueblo, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | September 8, 1982 (aged 71) Avila Beach, California, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1931–1933 | Western State (CO) |
| Basketball | |
| 1931–1934 | Western State (CO) |
| 1939–1940 | Oshkosh All-Stars |
| 1941–1942 | Toledo Jim White Chevrolets |
| Position(s) | Center (basketball) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1942–1949 | Mount Union |
| 1950–1952 | Marshall |
| 1953–1960 | Western State (CO) |
| Basketball | |
| 1935–1939 | Western State (CO) |
| 1945–1950 | Mount Union |
| 1958–1961 | Western State (CO) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 68–73–7 (college football) 113–108 (college basketball) |
Willard Merrill "Pete" Pederson (October 28, 1910 – September 8, 1982) was an American college football and college basketball coach as well as a professional basketball player.[1][2] Professionally, he played in the National Basketball League for the Oshkosh All-Stars and Toledo Jim White Chevrolets and averaged 3.1 points per game for his career.[2] In 1939–40 he served as player-coach for the All-Stars before resuming full-time head coaching duties in 1940–41.[1] His collegiate basketball coaching experience includes a stint at his alma mater, Western State College of Colorado—now known as Western Colorado University, from 1935 to 1939.[1]
Pederson played football at Western State in addition to basketball. In his post-professional basketball life, he became the head football coach for University of Mount Union, Marshall University, and Western State.[3][4]