Peterson Abiad looking forward to challenge of coaching Wisconsin Glo in Global Women's Basketball Association
OSHKOSH – Taking over a two-time league champion may be an intimidating proposition for some, but Kate Peterson Abiad welcomes the challenge of leading the Wisconsin Glo of the Global Women’s Basketball Association.
Peterson Abiad, who is also an assistant director with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, spent 15 seasons as head coach at Cleveland State. She now takes over the premier program of the GWBA.
“I got a big job to do, but luckily we have really nice players,” Peterson Abiad said. “I’m really enjoying working with them and excited to see what we can do this season. They are so versatile and they play really hard.
“They understand the game so well. They are sort of a dream team to work with. It’s all the best from their time. They’re doing a remarkable job getting back together as a unit and starting to play really well together.”
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The Glo has been dominant in the two seasons it has been in existence, compiling a 26-2 overall record. Last season, Wisconsin defeated St. Louis for the title. The teams were set to meet again this weekend to tip off the 2022 season.
“I want to play fast,” Peterson Abiad said. “We run a read and react offense. I want them to be creative, to play as a unit and be creative. I’m not really much for clear out and break somebody down. I want to play together, help each other score and we’ve got so many scorers on the team that just getting the ball to each other where they can really do something with it will be a big part of it.”
Peterson Abiad will be assisted by Joe La Chapell, who coached the Appleton East girls basketball team to a runner-up finish in the WIAA Division 1 state tournament in March.
“I’ve been super impressed (with Kate),” La Chapell said. “I didn’t know her. I knew she was at Cleveland State, but I never saw her coach or interacted (with her). Just seeing her out here working with the girls and explaining and being coach, I think that’s something as Wisconsin high school coaches we don’t appreciate. She is really good. And I’m excited to work with her and learn from her.”
Although Peterson Abiad will be the team’s third coach in as many seasons, her players have already embraced her.
“She’s very prepared,” said guard Frankie Wurtz, a former standout at Kimberly and UW-Green Bay. “I’ve only been at one practice so far, but I’m super excited. She seems to be a great coach, great person. I played against her my first two years in college, then she came to the job at Wisconsin.”
Third-year Glo player Taylor Wurtz, a standout at Ripon High School and the University of Wisconsin, agreed.
“She’s been great,” Taylor Wurtz said. “I’ve had one practice with her and really connected with her. I love her passion for this game and I can really tell that she wants to play fast and we’re going to do really well under her system.”
Third-year pro Gaby Bronson likes the way Peterson Abiad has communicated and taken charge of the team.
“Today will be our third practice,” Bronson said Friday during the team’s media day. “I think she’s going to be really good for us. She has very clear expectations, which I think is a good thing because we know what to expect from her and then hopefully we can give her what she expects in return and it’ll work out.”
The Glo has a true Wisconsin flavor in that of the 13 players under contract, 11 of them either grew up or played college basketball in the state. A majority of them will be back from last season, which gives the team some continuity in an ever-changing league.
“That was one of the reasons why I decided to run this offense, because I knew we had a lot of system players,” Peterson Abiad said.
Her love of coaching, however, was the main reason owner Greg Pierce was able to talk her into returning to the bench.
“We hosted a WIAA boys and girls tournament during COVID a year ago,” Pierce said. “She was the site director and we got to meet her. Then when we needed a coach, she was my first call. We talked her into it.”
He didn’t have to do too much coercing.
“I was missing coaching,” Peterson Abiad said. “I just loved my entire coaching career — 27 years of doing this at the Division I level. Being able to be a part of my family now a little bit more. I have a great job with the WIAA and really just a great way to stay connected. This is something I can do on the weekends. It’s like the best weekend gig ever. It’s really something special.”
The next month, however, could be rough juggling two jobs.
“(There won’t be) a lot of sleep,” Peterson Abiad said. “We’ve got a really big tournament coming up. I run the state track and field, and that’s probably my most difficult, most intricate tournament of the ones I run. So I have a lot going on with that, but I find that when everyone goes to sleep I can watch film or look up personnel stuff and really settle back into stuff I used to be really good at or used to know really well at least. It’s a busy time. They have lives too besides playing ball and so do I, so I think it’s a good mix.”
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This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Peterson Abiad, La Chapell take over premier GWBA program
