| Justin Buchanan was around
for the start of the Louisiana College football program and will
have another program to build. Louisiana College athletics photo |
Hendrix has named Justin “Buck” Buchanan head coach
of its first men’s football team in 52 years.
Hendrix announced last spring that it will join the Southern
Athletic Association in the 2012-2013 academic year and add two new
sports – football and women’s lacrosse. The new sports
will begin play in the 2013-2014 year. Hendrix last played football
in 1960.
“I am honored and excited to have this extraordinary
opportunity to coach the first football team at Hendrix in 52
years,” said Buchanan. “I look forward to working with
the student-athletes, fellow coaches, faculty, staff, and alumni at
Hendrix and the Conway community. It’s great to be a
Warrior.”
Buchanan has coached for Louisiana College since 1999 and was one
of the original staff members when the school’s football
program was restarted. Most recently, he served as associate head
football coach. He is an alumnus of Austin College, where he
graduated cum laude and received the school’s top scholar
athlete award and worked as a graduate assistant for the
men’s football and women’s basketball programs.
“Selecting a new head football coach after a 52-year
‘time out’ is a critical choice,” said Amy
Weaver, athletic director at Hendrix.
Hendrix appointed a committee of faculty, staff, and alumni, and
retained a national search firm to assist in the selection process,
she said. The school received nearly 150 applications for the
position. Buchanan was “a perfect fit,” Weaver
said.
“We are so fortunate to have someone of Justin’s
caliber, character, and commitment to Division III culture,”
she said. “He is a great addition to our coaching staff and
will be a strong leader for this new sport.”