The contract of fourth-year UNCW men’s basketball Head Coach Buzz Peterson has been terminated, UNCW Athletic Director Jimmy Bass announced Tuesday.

Bass has appointed assistant coach Eddie Biedenbach as interim head coach. A national search for Peterson’s replacement will begin immediately.

Peterson was named the ninth head men’s basketball coach in UNCW history on April 16, 2010, following a brief return to Appalachian State in 2009-10. He had coached previously at ASU, Tulsa, Tennessee and Coastal Carolina.

“We appreciate Coach Peterson’s work on behalf of the student-athletes and the university,” said Bass. “We thank him for his service and wish him well in the future.”

In four seasons at UNCW, Peterson coached the Seahawks to a 42-82 overall record and a 30-53 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association, featuring records of 13-18 (2010-11), 10-21 (2011-12), 10-20 (2012-13) and 9-23 (2013-14) over the last four years.

In 16 years as a head coach, Peterson stands 267-229 in stops at UNCW, Appalachian State, Tulsa, Tennessee and Coastal Carolina.

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