(Waukesha, Wis.) - David Buchanan, until recently the head men's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, has been named head men's basketball coach at Carroll University, athletic director Kris Jacobsen announced today.
Buchanan, chosen after a national search that attracted more than 200 applicants, becomes the 25th head coach in the 101-year history of the Pioneers men's basketball program. He succeeds David Schultz, who resigned after seven seasons to become a full-time teacher and boys basketball coach at Waukesha West High School.
"Our men's basketball program has been very successful and has garnered national attention," said Jacobsen. "I feel strongly that David Buchanan represents integrity and character. He will continue the tradition of winning on the court and will be a positive influence to his players, the community and the large following of alumni. Carroll University is fortunate to have David join our team.
Theresa Barry, Carroll's Dean of Students, echoed Jacobsen's comments. "We are delighted to have David join Carroll University as the head men's basketball coach," said Barry. "He will be a strong asset to our student-athletes, both on and off the court."
Buchanan comes to Carroll after a successful two-year stint at the helm of the UW-Superior program. In his short tenure at Superior, the Yellowjackets improved from being Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) afterthoughts to title contenders.
In his first season at UW-Superior (2007-2008), Buchanan led the Yellowjackets to a five-win improvement from the previous season and ended the year by advancing to the semi-finals of the WIAC Tournament for just the second time in school history. Superior's fifth-place regular season finish that year was its best WIAC finish since 1979. He compiled a two-year record of 23-29 overall, including a 10-22 mark in the WIAC.
Buchanan, a Watertown, Wis. native, was a standout collegiate basketball player at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he graduated in 1995.
Buchanan's coaching career began as a volunteer student assistant coach at UW-La Crosse. He then moved to Greenfield High School for his first head coaching position, leading the Hawks in just his second season to their first Woodland Conference Championship in 31 years. After five years at Greenfield, Buchanan had a short stop as head coach at Brookfield East High School before becoming head assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, an NCAA Division II member.
As the recruiting coordinator at UW-Parkside, Buchanan recruited a regionally recognized class in just his first season. That recruiting class went on to eventually qualify for the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to become the head men's basketball coach at Carroll University," said Buchanan. "The University has a tremendous upside both academically and athletically. Coach Schultz did a great job with this program and now my goal is to build on that and win Midwest Conference Championships while also competing at the National level."
Buchanan inherits a Carroll program that has the talent to contend for the Midwest Conference Championship in his first season. Two notable returnees for the Pioneers include senior point guard John Hoch (Colgate, Wis./Hartland Arrowhead) and sophomore shooting sensation Kyle Jones (East Troy, Wis./East Troy). The pair averaged 24.1 and 11.8 points per game, respectively, and played a major role in helping Carroll finish 16-8 overall (12-4 in the MWC), its sixth consecutive season with 15 or more wins.
"The players are looking forward to the opportunity to work with Coach Buchanan," said Hoch, a third-team D3hoops.com All-Region selection and first-team All-Midwest Conference honoree. "We are willing to do whatever it takes to keep the program at a high level. We believe Coach Buchanan is going to give us a great opportunity to be successful, both now and in the future."
Carroll's 2009-2010 schedule is currently being finalized and will be released in the coming weeks.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment