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     Dan Peterson was born in Evanston, Illinois, USA, on 9 January 1936. He attended Oakton Elementary School, Nichols Jr. High School and Evanston Township High School (ETHS). ETHS basketball coach Jack Burmaster encouraged Peterson to become a coach, based on Dan's success (3 titles in 3 years ) with Ridgway Club of the Evanston YMCA.

     Peterson received his B.S. degree in Education from Northwestern University in 1958 and his M.A. degree in Sports Administration from the University of Michigan in 1962. In 1962-63, he was JV Basketball Coach at McKendree College, an NAIA school in Lebanon, Illinois, where he was 16-3 with the JVs and Assistant Coach under the legendary James 'Barney' Oldfield, as 'McK' won the Prairie College Conference.

     In 1963-65, he was Freshman Basketball Coach at Michigan State University under Helms Hall of Fame coach Forrest 'Forddy' Anderson, going 14-0 and 11-3 with the 'Frosh.' In 1965-66, he was Plebe Basketball Coach at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Ben Carnevale, going 10-5 with the 'Plebes.' At age 30, in 1966, he became head coach at University of Delaware.

     In five years at UD, 1966-71, Peterson had a 69-49 record, working without athletic scholarships, and winning two championships. In 1971-73, he was National Team Coach in Chile, taking a 7th place in the 1973 World Basketball Festival in Perù and taking a 4th place (tie) in the 1973 South Americans in Colombia. During that year, Chile was 4-for-4 vs. Uruguay, their only wins vs. Uruguay in 60 years.

     During 1973-78, Peterson coached Virtus Bologna in Italy's A-1, winning the Italy Cup in 1974, the Playoffs in 1976, taking 2nd in the Playoffs in 1977 and 1978, and 2nd in the Cup of Cup Winners in 1978. In 1978, Peterson signed with Olympia of Milan. With Olympia, 1978-87, Peterson was 2nd in the Playoffs in 1979; 1st in 1982; 2nd in Italy and 2nd in the Cup of Champions in 1983; 2nd in Italy and 2nd in the Cup of Cup Winners in 1984; 1st in Italy and 1st in the Korac Cup in 1985; 1st in Italy and 1st in the Italian Cup in 1986; 1st in the Italian Cup, 1st in Italy and 1st in the Cup of Champions - a Grand Slam - in 1987. He then retired.

     Peterson set every Italian playoff coaching record in the 11 years he coached in the Playoffs: 11 Final Fours in 11 years, 9 finals, 4 titles, 74 games coached, and 51 victories (22 of which were on the road). Most of these records still stand 11 years later. He was Italy's Coach of the Year in 1979 and 1987. After the Grand Slam of 1987, he was European Coach of the Year.

     Since 1987, he has remained active in the areas of publicity, coaching clinics, and motivational talks. In his TV work, he has done NFL Football, Major League Baseball, NHL Hockey, WWF Wrestling and the NBA Game of the Week on Canale 5, Italia 1, Koper and TMC. Since 1993-94, he has done the commentary for the Italian League for TMC, Tele+2 and RAI-3.

     As a journalist, he writes for La Gazzetta dello Sport and La Gazzetta Magazine. He has also written for Giganti del Basket, SuperBasket and American SuperBasket. From 1995 to 1997, he was Director of 'Giganti del Basket.' In 1989, he received the 'Premio Olympia' from the Longobard Warriors Club of Milan for service to basketball. In 1995, he was elected to the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.

     He is married to the former Laura Verga.

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