Lynx Hire Jim Petersen as Assistant Coach


The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has hired Jim Petersen as an assistant coach. Petersen will join assistant coaches Jennifer Gillom and Ed Prohofsky on head coach Don Zierden's staff. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Petersen currently serves as the Minnesota Timberwolves' television analyst, teaming up with Tom Hanneman on KSTC.TV Ch. 45 and FSN broadcasts. Petersen has been a part of the Wolves' broadcast team for the past 11 seasons. The 2009 WNBA season will be his first behind the bench professionally.

"This is a dream come true for me,'' said Petersen. "I've always had a great deal of respect for coaching and have spent my whole life around coaches and the game of basketball. I�m really excited about the talent Roger Griffith and Coach Zierden have put together and cannot wait to get started working with our world-class players. I can�t thank the Lynx organization enough for giving me this opportunity." With the Lynx, Petersen will be responsible for the team�s scouting efforts, talent evaluation, and player development with a focus on the post players.

"I am really excited to have Jim join our coaching staff," said Lynx Chief Operating Officer Roger Griffith. "He had a great opportunity to get to know our team and the WNBA last year when he worked as an analyst on our broadcasts. I have had the chance to hear him talk about basketball and the Lynx and I am excited about the improvements he can bring to our team. He has a tremendous amount of experience as an NBA player and television analyst and I know he can make a difference. I am really excited about what this coaching staff can do as they work together to build a championship caliber team." Petersen spent his eight-year NBA career (1984-92) with the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. Petersen finished with career averages of 6.9 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 491 games, 208 starts.

"I cannot wait to get started working with Jim Pete," said Lynx head coach Don Zierden. "Jim brings years and years of NBA experience with him to the bench and we believe the time is right for him to come in and teach our world-class athletes. We're all very excited to see how our up-and-coming post players' talents and abilities will develop under Jim's direction." A native of Minneapolis, Petersen won the Minnesota Mr. Basketball award as a high school senior in 1980. Prior to his NBA playing and broadcasting careers, Petersen played four seasons for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, winning the Big Ten Championship in 1982.