Kate Peterson Abiad
16U Peterson Abiad - Head Coach

Kate Peterson Abiad joined the WIAA staff as assistant director on April 1, 2018. 

Her responsibilities include the administration and coordination of duties for the sports of basketball, boys and girls tennis, and boys and girls lacrosse.  She also oversees Officials Services such as licensing, Officials' Advisory Committee, and recruiting & retention efforts.  Kate is the WIAA contact for coaches' education and conduct.

Prior to the 2022-23 seasons, Peterson Abiad administered the sports of cross county, soccer, track & field and volleyball.

She possesses a wealth of basketball experience with 27 years as a collegiate coach. She comes to the WIAA from Cleveland State University, where she served as the head women’s basketball coach for 15 seasons from 2003-04 through 2017-18. She gradually built the program, leading the Vikings to Horizon League Conference Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007-08 and 2009-10. She is the school’s all-time winningest coach with 206 victories.

She has significant ties with basketball in Wisconsin. Prior to being named the head coach at Cleveland State, she served six seasons as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin from 1997-2003. During that time, Peterson Abiad helped guide the Badgers to three NCAA Tournaments–including 1998, 2001 and 2002–as well as a WNIT championship in 2000 and a runner-up finish in 1999. She served as the Badgers’ chief recruiter. Her efforts helped the Badgers receive commitments resulting in two top-10 freshman classes. Other coaching experience includes assistant stints at Eastern Illinois University from 1993-97 and at Indiana University from 1991-93, where she earned her master’s degree in counseling and educational psychology in 1995.

Peterson Abiad had a stellar collegiate basketball career at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point prior to graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1991. She received Kodak All-America honorable mention recognition her senior season with the Pointers in 1990-91. Peterson Abiad was a four-year starter and was named the team’s MVP in 1990-91. She earned All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors in 1991 and honorable mention in 1990. She set an NCAA Division III national record for three-point field goals made per game at 3.85 during the 1990-91 season and was inducted into the UW-Stevens Point Hall of Fame in 2000.

Peterson Abiad is a native of River Falls, Wis., where she participated in basketball and softball throughout her prep career at River Falls High School.