Kate Peterson Abiad was named the head coach for the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball program on Friday (April 10), per announcement by Mastodon Director of Athletics Kelley Hartley Hutton. Peterson Abiad brings a wealth of Horizon League experience to Fort Wayne. She guided Cleveland State to league titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2010.
“We are proud to welcome Coach Peterson Abiad and her family to the Mastodon family,” Hartley Hutton said. “Her extensive experience, especially within the Horizon League and across our recruiting footprint, immediately set her apart as our top choice. More importantly, her leadership, vision, and coaching style align perfectly with the direction of our program. She is exactly the right person to lead us forward as we continue to elevate our women’s basketball program and pursue Horizon League Championships.”
There will be an official welcome presentation and press conference on Wednesday (April 15) at 1 p.m. in the International Ballroom on the Purdue Fort Wayne campus.
“I am excited and deeply honored to step into the role of head women’s basketball coach at Purdue Fort Wayne,” Peterson Abiad said. “This program has laid a strong foundation of success in recent years, and I am eager to contribute new energy, discipline, and enthusiasm to this team. My goal is to build a team culture where our student-athletes thrive as confident, resilient, and empowered women both on the court and in life. I fully embrace the competitive spirit of the Horizon League and am committed to advancing the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball program’s winning tradition.”
Peterson Abiad spent the last two seasons as an assistant for Horizon League member Green Bay, helping the Phoenix to back-to-back Horizon League regular season and tournament championships. She guided Jenna Guyer to Horizon League Player of the Year and Horizon League Championship MVP honors in 2025-26. Prior to joining the staff in Green Bay, the River Falls, Wisconsin native served as the Assistant Director on the Executive Staff of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Peterson Abiad was the head coach for Cleveland State from 2003-18, where she led Cleveland State to Horizon League Tournament Championships in 2008 and 2010. Under her direction, Cleveland State made four postseason appearances overall, including the Vikings’ first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2010, the WBI in 2011 and the WNIT in 2015. Peterson Abiad coached the Vikings’ all-time leading scorer, Kailey Klein, who scored 2,140 points and won a Horizon League Player of the Year honor, and went on to play professionally in the WNBA. She owned a 206-252 record as head coach of the Vikings and a 122-137 mark in Horizon League play. Her 122 league wins ranks fourth in league history.
Before taking the head coach role at Cleveland State, Peterson Abiad was an assistant coach at Wisconsin (1997-2003) and Eastern Illinois (1993-97) and a graduate assistant coach at Indiana (1991-93). In her time with the Badgers, she helped Wisconsin to three NCAA Tournament appearances and two WNIT berths.
Peterson Abiad played college ball at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She set the then-NCAA Division III record with 3.85 3-point field goals per game in her senior season and was named a Kodak All-American in 1991.
Tagged with: Horizon League
