Gary Peterson's return to coaching at Austin High School has officially become a welcomed one.

It was announced on Wednesday that Peterson was named the Section 1AAA girls' basketball coach of the year, guiding the Packers to the section finals in his first year back at the helm of the program.

Austin went 21-5 after returning 10 letterwinners from a 12-12 team from the 2001-2002 campaign. Peterson, who coached at Lyle/Pacelli for two seasons, came back to a Packer team ranked sixth in the preaseason polls. Austin finished the year fifth in the final polls and one game short of its second-ever state tournament berth.

Peterson coached at AHS for 11 years, from 1987 to 1998, and guided the team to the section finals twice while compiling a 132-127 record. He was let go from the job and became the girls' assistant coach at Lyle/Pacelli the following year. In 2001-02, Peterson led L/P to a 12-13 record and the Southeast Conference championship.

In 20 years as a head girls' basketball coach, Peterson has compiled a 263-195 overall record.