Women's Basketball
Petersen, Josh
Josh Petersen
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- 412-648-8753
- Email:
- jpetersen@pitt.edu
Josh Petersen is entering his fourth season as assistant coach for the Pitt women’s basketball program in 2021-22. Petersen’s main focus in on-court instruction is with the Panthers post players while also serving as the Panthers’ recruiting coordinator.
Through three seasons working with the Pitt post players, Petersen has made a huge impact in his players’ development and production. After being one of the worst rebounding teams in the ACC prior to his arrival, the Panthers have flipped the script over the past three seasons thanks to the presence of their post players down low. Pitt averaged 41.4 rebounds per game in 2020-21 which marked the highest per game rebounding average for the Panthers since joining the ACC.
Petersen has helped the Panthers become one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the nation under his tutelage as they led the ACC and ranked 14th in the NCAA grabbing 15.7 offensive rebounds per game in 2020-21. Cynthia Ezeja led the squad with 2.8 offensive rebounds per game while Rita Igbokwe chipped in with 2.4 offensive boards per contest.
One of the brightest spots for the Panthers during the 2019-20 season was the development of freshman center Rita Igbokwe who by the end of the season turned into one of the best shot blockers and disruptive forces down low in the ACC. Igbokwe finished off her first season ranking second in the conference in blocked shots (60), a new Pitt freshman record, while also grabbing 6.8 rebounds/game and becoming a much improved threat on the offensive end of the court. She finished the year shooting a team-best 46.2% from the floor and notching six games with 10+ boards.
He also worked closely with freshman guard/forward Amber Brown who burst onto the scene in her first season with a team-high five double-doubles while leading all ACC freshman in rebounds (7.7 rpg). Brown finished off her impressive first season averaging 9.1 ppg and a team-high 7.7 rpg under Petersen’s watchful eye.
Petersen has also helped the Panthers secure back-to-back strong recruiting classes as the 2019-20 freshman class finished the season combining to score 31.0 points/game, the highest scoring freshman class in program history. Petersen also helped the Panthers secure their highest ranked recruit, Tracey Hueston (73rd ranked recruit in the class of 2020), since joining the ACC in 2013-14.
During the 2018-19 season, Petersen helped senior forward Danielle Garven become one of the better power forwards in the conference as she averaged career-highs in all statistical categories including points/game (11.8), rebounds/game (4.3) and shooting percentage (.457). Also making a big jump forward was sophomore center Cara Judkins who improved in every statistical category while averaging 6.6 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds. Entering the 2019-20 season, Judkins leads all returning players in the ACC in improvement in rebounds/game from 2017-18 to 2018-19 (+4.2) and has the second biggest improvement in points/game (+6.1) of any returning player.
Petersen arrived in Pittsburgh after spending the past four seasons as an assistant coach under Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick at UNC Asheville. He specialized in the development of post players in addition to serving as the Bulldogs’ recruiting coordinator and camp director.
During his time in Asheville, the Bulldogs captured back-to-back Big South Conference Tournament crowns (2016, 2017), two NCAA Tournament berths (2016, 2017), three consecutive postseason berths (2016, 2017, 2018) and one Big South Conference regular season title (2016).
With Petersen on the sidelines, nine Bulldogs earned All-Big South Conference honors, including 2015-16 league Player of the Year Chatori Major. Additionally, six players earned Big South Championship All-Tournament honors with Major and Sonora Dengokl being named Most Valuable Player in 2016 and 2017.
In 2017-18, UNC Asheville raced through Big South Conference play, which was highlighted by handing Liberty its first league loss of the year. The Bulldogs’ season was capped by playing in their third consecutive postseason tournament. UNC Asheville hosted Furman in the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI), marking the first time the program hosted a postseason tournament.
Prior to his stint at UNC Asheville, Petersen was at Florida State with White for six seasons, including two years as a graduate assistant (2012-14). He was FSU’s head manager for four years prior to his graduate work (2008-12). In his six years at Florida State, the Seminoles went to five NCAA Tournaments, including an appearance in the Elite Eight in 2010.
As a graduate assistant with the Seminoles, Petersen’s responsibilities included directing the scout team, assisting with video, helping with team travel and official visits plus aid skill development and individual workouts. Petersen also helped run Florida State’s women’s basketball camp.
A native of Abernathy, Texas, Petersen moved to Tallahassee, Fla., prior to his senior year of high school and graduated from Godby High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance in 2012 and his master’s degree in sports management at FSU in the spring of 2014.
Petersen and the former Shelby Heffernan were married May 11, 2017.
Beyond the Bio
Favorite sports moment at Pitt?
Without a doubt, the 2019-20 ACC Tournament! We beat Notre Dame in the first round, and our team from start to finish was locked in. However, for me it was not only defeating Notre Dame, but also the moment when our team grew up and really showed how far they had come. We went on to play Georgia Tech in the second round and really had a chance to win. Overall, the entire experience of last year’s ACC Tournament has to be my favorite moment thus far.
What do you love most about the University of Pittsburgh?
Simply put… Pitt’s DIVERSITY! We are diverse in culture, thinking, and ideas from top to bottom. We are in what I believe is the best conference in the country, while also leading in the world of academics. Pitt embodies so many aspects of diversity that are important to me.
What do you love most about working in athletics?
The people! I am surrounded by some of the greatest leaders in our community and people that value what I do. Hard work, competitiveness, and serving others.
If you could have dinner with any three people who would it be and why?
4 people, in no particular order… President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Will Ferrell, & Gregg Popovich… This is one of my all-star lineups. The conversation would be incredible, and I would like to think that we would share a ton of laughs!
Favorite quote?
“Make each day your masterpiece” – John Wooden
Through three seasons working with the Pitt post players, Petersen has made a huge impact in his players’ development and production. After being one of the worst rebounding teams in the ACC prior to his arrival, the Panthers have flipped the script over the past three seasons thanks to the presence of their post players down low. Pitt averaged 41.4 rebounds per game in 2020-21 which marked the highest per game rebounding average for the Panthers since joining the ACC.
Petersen has helped the Panthers become one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the nation under his tutelage as they led the ACC and ranked 14th in the NCAA grabbing 15.7 offensive rebounds per game in 2020-21. Cynthia Ezeja led the squad with 2.8 offensive rebounds per game while Rita Igbokwe chipped in with 2.4 offensive boards per contest.
One of the brightest spots for the Panthers during the 2019-20 season was the development of freshman center Rita Igbokwe who by the end of the season turned into one of the best shot blockers and disruptive forces down low in the ACC. Igbokwe finished off her first season ranking second in the conference in blocked shots (60), a new Pitt freshman record, while also grabbing 6.8 rebounds/game and becoming a much improved threat on the offensive end of the court. She finished the year shooting a team-best 46.2% from the floor and notching six games with 10+ boards.
He also worked closely with freshman guard/forward Amber Brown who burst onto the scene in her first season with a team-high five double-doubles while leading all ACC freshman in rebounds (7.7 rpg). Brown finished off her impressive first season averaging 9.1 ppg and a team-high 7.7 rpg under Petersen’s watchful eye.
Petersen has also helped the Panthers secure back-to-back strong recruiting classes as the 2019-20 freshman class finished the season combining to score 31.0 points/game, the highest scoring freshman class in program history. Petersen also helped the Panthers secure their highest ranked recruit, Tracey Hueston (73rd ranked recruit in the class of 2020), since joining the ACC in 2013-14.
During the 2018-19 season, Petersen helped senior forward Danielle Garven become one of the better power forwards in the conference as she averaged career-highs in all statistical categories including points/game (11.8), rebounds/game (4.3) and shooting percentage (.457). Also making a big jump forward was sophomore center Cara Judkins who improved in every statistical category while averaging 6.6 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds. Entering the 2019-20 season, Judkins leads all returning players in the ACC in improvement in rebounds/game from 2017-18 to 2018-19 (+4.2) and has the second biggest improvement in points/game (+6.1) of any returning player.
Petersen arrived in Pittsburgh after spending the past four seasons as an assistant coach under Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick at UNC Asheville. He specialized in the development of post players in addition to serving as the Bulldogs’ recruiting coordinator and camp director.
During his time in Asheville, the Bulldogs captured back-to-back Big South Conference Tournament crowns (2016, 2017), two NCAA Tournament berths (2016, 2017), three consecutive postseason berths (2016, 2017, 2018) and one Big South Conference regular season title (2016).
With Petersen on the sidelines, nine Bulldogs earned All-Big South Conference honors, including 2015-16 league Player of the Year Chatori Major. Additionally, six players earned Big South Championship All-Tournament honors with Major and Sonora Dengokl being named Most Valuable Player in 2016 and 2017.
In 2017-18, UNC Asheville raced through Big South Conference play, which was highlighted by handing Liberty its first league loss of the year. The Bulldogs’ season was capped by playing in their third consecutive postseason tournament. UNC Asheville hosted Furman in the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI), marking the first time the program hosted a postseason tournament.
Prior to his stint at UNC Asheville, Petersen was at Florida State with White for six seasons, including two years as a graduate assistant (2012-14). He was FSU’s head manager for four years prior to his graduate work (2008-12). In his six years at Florida State, the Seminoles went to five NCAA Tournaments, including an appearance in the Elite Eight in 2010.
As a graduate assistant with the Seminoles, Petersen’s responsibilities included directing the scout team, assisting with video, helping with team travel and official visits plus aid skill development and individual workouts. Petersen also helped run Florida State’s women’s basketball camp.
A native of Abernathy, Texas, Petersen moved to Tallahassee, Fla., prior to his senior year of high school and graduated from Godby High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance in 2012 and his master’s degree in sports management at FSU in the spring of 2014.
Petersen and the former Shelby Heffernan were married May 11, 2017.
Beyond the Bio
Favorite sports moment at Pitt?
Without a doubt, the 2019-20 ACC Tournament! We beat Notre Dame in the first round, and our team from start to finish was locked in. However, for me it was not only defeating Notre Dame, but also the moment when our team grew up and really showed how far they had come. We went on to play Georgia Tech in the second round and really had a chance to win. Overall, the entire experience of last year’s ACC Tournament has to be my favorite moment thus far.
What do you love most about the University of Pittsburgh?
Simply put… Pitt’s DIVERSITY! We are diverse in culture, thinking, and ideas from top to bottom. We are in what I believe is the best conference in the country, while also leading in the world of academics. Pitt embodies so many aspects of diversity that are important to me.
What do you love most about working in athletics?
The people! I am surrounded by some of the greatest leaders in our community and people that value what I do. Hard work, competitiveness, and serving others.
If you could have dinner with any three people who would it be and why?
4 people, in no particular order… President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Will Ferrell, & Gregg Popovich… This is one of my all-star lineups. The conversation would be incredible, and I would like to think that we would share a ton of laughs!
Favorite quote?
“Make each day your masterpiece” – John Wooden
Highlights | Pitt 79, Wake Forest 63
Sunday, March 02
Pitt Women's Basketball Highlights | Pitt 79, Boston College 66
Saturday, March 01
Pitt Women's Basketball Highlights | Pitt 72, Clemson 59
Saturday, March 01
Highlights | Pitt 72, Clemson 59
Sunday, February 23
