Kate Peterson splashed onto the scene in her first year at Cleveland, directing the Vikings to a school record nine league victories. That success was tempered by the struggles over the past two seasons, but the fourth year coach knows that the road to building a strong program is a long, hard one.

It started with the first practice of the 2003-04 season, when it became obvious that defense was the cornerstone that the program would be built on. Long-known as one of the top offensive teams in the league, CSU's scoring defense immediately improved by nearly 10 points a game. The Vikings held nine opponents under 60 points and forced 13 teams to shoot under 40.0 percent from the floor.

However, the changes weren't solely limited to the defensive end of the court. CSU moved from a run-and-shoot mentality to a ball-control, motion offense that forced its opponents to expend energy defensively on each and every possession.

An assistant at Wisconsin for six seasons prior to her arrival in Cleveland, Peterson served as the Badgers' chief recruiter beginning in 1998. Under head coach Jane Albright, Peterson helped the Badgers bring in two top-10 rookie classes in her final four years in Madison.

Peterson was responsible for the signing and development of WNBA draftees Tamara Moore and Jessie Stomski. She was instrumental to the Badgers inking Nina Smith, the 1999 USA Today National Prep Player of the Year.

While in Madison, the Badgers advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times (1998, 2001 & 2002) and won the 2000 WNIT championship after falling in the title game the year before.

Prior to her stint at Wisconsin, Peterson was an assistant at Eastern Illinois for four years (1993-97), joining the staff as the chief assistant in 1993. She played a large role in the Panthers posting a 16-12 record and advancing to the conference semifinals in 1994-95 -- just two years after the team won just two games.

During her tenure in Charleston, Ill., Peterson served as the recruiting coordinator, was responsible for scouting opponents and developed a strength and conditioning program. She also assisted with practice planning and implementation and coached individual workouts.

A native of River Falls, Wis., Peterson graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where she earned honorable mention Kodak All-America honors as a senior in 1990-91.

A four-year starter, she twice garnered all-conference recognition and set an NCAA Division III national record for three-point field goals made per game (3.85) during the 1990-91 season. She was inducted into the UW-Stevens Point Hall of Fame in 2000.

Peterson completed her bachelor's degree in psychology from Stevens Point in 1991, and earned her master's degree in counseling and educational psychology from Indiana in 1995.

While at Indiana, she gained familiarity with the Big Ten Conference, serving as a graduate assistant for one year. She later took on expanded duties including scouting, on-campus recruiting and on-court coaching in 1992-93.

In addition to her college coaching experience, Peterson served as the coach for an Athletes in Action camp held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1992, and has worked a variety of summer basketball camps and served as the director of the UW-Stevens Point summer basketball camp in 1991.

Peterson lives in North Royalton. She will marry CSU assistant volleyball coach Phil Abaid on May 26, 2007.