| Pete Pederson | |
| Birth Date: | 28 October 1910 |
| Birth Place: | Pueblo, Colorado, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Avila Beach, California, U.S. |
| Player Sport1: | Football |
| Player Years2: | 1931–1933 |
| Player Team2: | Western State (CO) |
| Player Sport3: | Basketball |
| Player Years4: | 1931–1934 |
| Player Team4: | Western State (CO) |
| Player Years5: | 1939–1940 |
| Player Team5: | Oshkosh All-Stars |
| Player Years6: | 1941–1942 |
| Player Team6: | Toledo Jim White Chevrolets |
| Player Positions: | Center (basketball) |
| Coach Sport1: | Football |
| Coach Years2: | 1942–1949 |
| Coach Team2: | Mount Union |
| Coach Years3: | 1950–1952 |
| Coach Team3: | Marshall |
| Coach Years4: | 1953–1960 |
| Coach Team4: | Western State (CO) |
| Coach Sport5: | Basketball |
| Coach Years6: | 1935–1939 |
| Coach Team6: | Western State (CO) |
| Coach Years7: | 1945–1950 |
| Coach Team7: | Mount Union |
| Coach Years8: | 1958–1961 |
| Coach Team8: | Western State (CO) |
| Overall Record: | 68–73–7 (college football) 113–108 (college basketball) |
Willard Merrill "Pete" Pederson (October 28, 1910 – September 8, 1982) was an American college football and college basketball coach as well as a professional basketball player.[1] [2] 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.[2] In 1939–40 he served as player-coach for the All-Stars before resuming full-time head coaching duties in 1940–41.[1] His collegiate basketball coaching experience includes a stint at his alma mater, Western State College of Colorado—now known as Western Colorado University, from 1935 to 1939.[1]
Pederson played football at Western State 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.[3] [4]