UNC-Wilmington hiring Peterson as head coach

After a search that has lasted more than two months, UNC-Wilmington has hired Buzz Peterson.

According to multiple sources, Peterson, who won 23 games this past season at Appalachian State, has agreed to take over the Seahawks head job.

An announcement is expected Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Peterson, 46, was in his second stint at Appalachian State. He was 79-39 in four seasons from 1996-2000 before going to Tulsa for one season in which he won 26 games.

Then it was off to Tennessee, where he compiled a 61-59 mark in four seasons. He was at Coastal Carolina for two years before taking the Director of Player Personnel job for the Charlotte Bobcats with his good friend and former North Carolina teammate, Michael Jordan.

Peterson has a career head coaching record that is nearly 80 games over the .500 mark.

Peterson will take over for Bennie Moss, who was reassigned on Jan. 28. Interim coach Brooks Lee finished out the 9-22 campaign.

Athletic director Kelly Mehrtens made no secret of her desire to bring on someone with head coaching experience. She was in contact with Citadel's Ed Conroy, former East Carolina and current Kansas assistant Joe Dooley, Wofford's Mike Young and Chattanooga's John Shulman before agreeing to a deal with Peterson.