Men's Basketball
Peters Named to Ohio State Basketball Staff
From Ohio State Athletic Department Press Release

Dan Peters

Newly appointed Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta has completed his staff with the hiring of Dan Peters as an assistant coach.

Peters, who has spent the past five years as an assistant and later the associate head coach at the University of Cincinnati, will join previously named assistants Alan Major and John Groce and director of basketball operations Brandon Miller on Matta's staff. All three of the latter accompanied Matta from Xavier.

"Dan is a terrific addition to our staff," said Matta, who was named as Ohio State's head coach on July 7. "He is an Ohio guy who has enjoyed success at virtually every level. He has a tremendous passion for the game of basketball and is one of the great teachers in the game."

The 50-year-old Peters, who was born in Cleveland and grew up in Canton, is a 1976 graduate of Kent State University. Prior to Cincinnati, Peters spent six seasons as the head coach at Youngstown State. He also has been the head coach at Walsh College and St. Joseph's College of Indiana, amassing a combined record of 237-140 in 14 years at those three schools.

"I am thrilled to be part of the Ohio State staff and have the opportunity to work with Coach Matta," said Peters. "This is one of the top programs in college basketball and I can't wait to get started. This is a great day for my family and me."

Peters began his coaching career at Guernsey Catholic High School in Cambridge, Ohio. He spent two years there and one season at Meadowbrook High School in Byesville, Ohio before jumping to the college ranks as a graduate assistant at Delta State during the 1979-80 season. His three-year record in high school was 34-26.

In 1981, Peters moved to Walsh College as an assistant to Bob Huggins. He succeeded Huggins in 1984 and directed Walsh to a 28-4 record in his first year. He would go on to spend five seasons at Walsh, compiling an overall record of 116-39 and twice earning district coach of the year honors.

At the conclusion of the1988 campaign, Peters accepted an offer to become an assistant coach at Western Carolina. The following year, he returned to Ohio and spent two seasons (1990 and 1991) as an assistant coach at Akron.

Following the 1991 season, Peters was named head coach at St. Joseph's, where he compiled a two-year mark of 43-14 and led his team to an NCAA Division II tournament appearance in his second season.

In 1993, Peters moved to Youngstown State as head coach. He directed the 1998 Penguins to a 20-8 record and a berth in the championship game of the Mid-Continent Tournament. Following the season, he was named Mid-Continent Conference Coach of the Year. During his stay at Youngstown, he worked with current Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel.

Peters joined the Cincinnati staff in May of 1999 as an assistant coach. He was promoted to associate head coach of the Bearcats in 2002.

Dan and his wife, Nancy, have two sons: Danny (18) and Michael (15).

Bonus Coverage from the University of Cincinnati Web Site

Dan Peters has built a reputation as a master strategist during his 27 seasons as a coach.

Peters has been appointed interim head coach and will be responsible for leading the men's basketball program. He is well-prepared for that assignment.

Peters, who is in his sixth year on the Cincinnati staff, was the aide chiefly responsible for scouting reports, practice organization and the administration of the basketball program.

Peters also has 14 seasons of experience as a college head coach. He compiled a 237-140 record during that span, recording eight 20-plus win seasons.

Peters spent six seasons at Youngstown State prior to coming to UC in 1999. He guided the 1997-98 Penguins, who had but two returning starters, to a 20-8 record, the school’s first 20-win mark since moving to Division I. Youngstown State came within one game of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Valparaiso in the Mid-Continent Tournament championship game. Peters earned Mid-Continent Conference Coach of the Year honors.

Peters, 49, was an assistant on Bob Huggins’ staff at Walsh College when the latter was head coach there for three years (1980-83). The combo coached Walsh to a 71-26 record, which featured a 30-0 regular season mark and a trip to the NAIA tourney finals in 1982-83.

Peters succeeded Huggins as head coach in 1983-84 and quickly established his own credentials by directing the school to a 28-4 record in his debut season. He piloted his 1984-85 team to the district finals and made semifinal appearances in 1986-87 and 1987-88. Peters compiled a 116-39 record in five seasons, twice earning district coach of the year plaudits.

After serving stints as an assistant at Western Carolina (1988-89) and Akron (1989-91), Peters became head coach at St. Joseph’s (Ind.). He was 43-14 in two seasons (1991-93), directing the school to an NCAA Division II tourney appearance in 1991-92 and earning league coach of the year honors.

A 1976 graduate of Kent State, Peters was 34-26 in three seasons as a high school head coach. He launched his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delta State in 1979-80.

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