Gavin Petersen is finally getting his chance.

After compiling women’s basketball assistant coaching stints totaling more than 20 years, the Honolulu native and former Hawaii staffer Petersen received his first Division I head-coaching opportunity Tuesday as he was named head coach of the Utah Utes.

Petersen succeeds Lynne Roberts, who was named the new coach of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks on the same day. Petersen worked under Roberts since 2013, first at Pacific then at Utah from 2015. He entered this season as his sixth as associate head coach.

He got the nod from Director of Athletics Mark Harlan.

"First off, I want to congratulate Lynne on her new job in the W," Petersen said in a Utah news release. "She's an amazing leader, great coach, and true friend, so I'm excited for her and her family. I want to thank President (Taylor) Randall, Mark Harlan and (deputy AD) Charmelle Green for this amazing opportunity to lead this tradition-rich program here at Utah. It means the world to me to hear from them that they believe in me and have confidence in me to continue building on what we started. My family and I have loved being here in Salt Lake City, our two girls have grown up here, and we are blessed to continue making this our home."

"All my attention is now going to be focused on, and poured into, our players. The basketball part of things is the fun part, and we are still going to play Utah Basketball. Even though 'change' has occurred, everything that we set out to accomplish this season is still right in front of us, and I am extremely excited about this group, this team. Our core principles and foundation are intact, and we will rely on each other this season as we continue this journey together. I am humbled and honored to be given the responsibility to lead this special group of young women, and I can't wait to attack each day with them."

Petersen, a University Lab School graduate, got his undergraduate degree from Hawaii Pacific and his master’s from UH.

He served two stints as UH assistant coach under three head coaches — first under Vince Goo from 2002-04 then under Dana Takahara-Dias followed by Laura Beeman from 2011-13.

In between, he spent time at Idaho and Idaho State.

He was twice a finalist for the head UH job that went to Takahara-Dias in 2009 and Beeman in 2012.

Utah was ranked as high as No. 3 in the 2022-23 season, a program high, and was in the top 25 throughout the 2023-24 season. Petersen was credited with guiding former UH post Megan Huff for her final two years of college ball, during which time she was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection. Huff was then was drafted into the WNBA.

“Gavin Petersen will do incredible things here as the head coach," Roberts said. "He is an unbelievable coach and person. He has passed up several chances in the past to be a head coach elsewhere, but he believes in the University of Utah, its leadership, and what we have built. He is more than ready to take this program over and I cannot wait to be a huge support for him and be the team's loudest cheerleader in the Huntsman Center."

His first game in the big chair with the Utes (3-1) will be against Saint Joseph’s at the Huntsman Center on Friday night.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.