[1] He received his education from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.

[1] He played 132 matches and scored 445 goals for the Norway men's national handball team between 1978 and 1987.

After securing Norway a place in the 2009 World Championship, he announced that he would not continue as the national team head coach when his contract ran out on 13 October 2008.

[5] Pettersen's team won preliminary group B of the 2008 European Men's Handball Championship and qualified for the main group after beating later champions Denmark, Russia, and Montenegro.

After tying later silver medalists Croatia in their last match in the main group, the team missed the semifinals.