Pete Pederson

Willard Merrill "Pete" Pederson  (October 28, 1910 – September 8, 1982) was an American college football and basketball coach as well as professional basketball player. Professionally, he played in the National Basketball League for the Oshkosh All-Stars and Toledo Jim White Chevrolets and averaged 3.1 points per game for his career. In 1939–40 he served as player-coach for the All-Stars before resuming full-time head coaching duties in 1940–41. His collegiate basketball coaching experience includes a stint at his alma mater, Western State Colorado University, from 1935 to 1939.

Pederson played football at Western State Colorado in addition to basketball. In his post-professional basketball life, he became the head football coach for University of Mount Union, Marshall University, and Western State Colorado. He compiled an overall record of 68–73–7, including a conference championship at Western State Colorado in 1954.