Slow Motion Replay: David Buchanan (@ChiefSmoke10) just when he thought he was out, he got pulled back in; and we’re all thrilled @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @CountyMustangs, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball

Two term President of the KFCA and COY at the district, regional, and state levels, Buchanan loves to coach and loves his kids

Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Pull Me Back In!  
Michael Corleone, The Godfather, Part 3

Buchanan experienced unparalleled success leading a Mercer County program through some trying times. Buchanan was 50-32, in seven (7) seasons, in Harrodsburg, KY taking them to the state quarters twice; Buchanan was 150-72, at Mason County, from 1996-2014 and took two teams to the semis while there; Buchanan was 31-15 at Paris High, in four (4) seasons, taking them to two quarterfinals berths; and, in a complete from the studs up rebuild at Anderson County, Buchanan has won four (4) games in two years showing marked and steady improvement from year one (one win) to year two (three wins). Buck is still going strong, and along with longtime friend, Coach Chuck Smith, has a very popular podcast to boot.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Lawrenceburg, KY: David Buchanan has retired from coaching once. However, even then, Buchanan didn’t rule out a return.

Well, true to his word, he has returned and is doing yeoman’s work in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky at Anderson County High. Anderson County was a one win team his first year. That number swelled to three wins in year two. It is easy to like the apparent direction.

Buchanan has enjoyed quite a bit of success. Overall, in 32-years of coaching (by our count), Buchanan is 234-137. As Coach Lyon above set forth, Buchanan was 50-32 in seven (7) seasons in Harrodsburg, KY (Mercer County), taking them to the state quarters twice. Buchanan was 150-72, at Mason County (from 1996-2014) and took two teams to the semis while in Maysville.

Buchanan was 31-15 at Paris High, in four (4) seasons, taking them to two quarterfinals berths. Buchanan, in what can only be accurately described as a complete from the studs up rebuild at Anderson County, has that program trending in the right direction. Under Coach Buchanan’s leadership, the Bearcats performed considerably better in year two (three wins) than in year one (one win).

This was forecast, his probable return, the day Buchanan announced his retirement in Mercer County. “I love coaching football and hope to return to the field someday,” Buchanan was then quoted saying. That day came rather quickly as Buchanan was hired for the ’23 season to replace Mark Palmer in Lawrenceburg.

At the time of his retirement from Mercer County, Coach Buchanan told one journalist, “If I never coach again, I will thank God for a lifetime of high school football and Friday Nights, as well as 30 wonderful years as a head football coach.”

That is the characteristic Coach David Buchanan shares with the other greats and Hall of Famers, whose company we believe him to be certain to join one day. That commitment; that subsumed, engrossed, fanatical commitment to the game and the “football people” who populate it.

All the great ones share that. They may run different schemes, they may employ different strategies, they may handle personnel differently; but, the “Great Ones” share a lifetime devotion to the game, its players, its coaches, its administrators, its fans, and even its parents.

Football is their life. It is their hobby. It is what they do when they vacation. Like Coach Jon Collins, a person who would certainly know and is exceedingly qualified to pronounce, is fond of saying, David Buchanan is a lifer.

Buchanan and his longtime friend and legendary KHSAA coach in his own right, Chuck Smith, host a very popular podcast. The podcast, linked both here and above, is aptly titled, The Coaches Office: A Behind the Scenes Look.

The podcast features two high school coaches, both of whom are legendary (David Buchanan and Chuck Smith), and both of whom provide considerable insight into the Kentucky HS game. Sounds a little like what we try to do.

Smith has won six (6) KHSAA titles. Buchanan hasn’t yet broken through; however, he is still accumulating wins and is coaching at a school which has produced fine players and before made deep playoff runs. As Buchanan is fond of joking with his co-host, he may catch Smith yet!

There is a poignant scene from the Godfather trilogy. This scene we are describing is from the last installment.

Michael Corleone believes he is taking his “family” legitimate. However the seductive ways of the Mafioso, and how it conducts business and makes a living, pulls Corleone back into the quagmire of a life he was trying to leave.

The only real way out of the Mafia is in a box. For the lifers out there, that is the only way out of KHSAA football too it seems.

The great ones are unconcerned with that reality. The great ones resign themselves to being in it for the long haul, being a “lifer.”

You see, that is what makes David Buchanan, and coaches like him, Hall of Famers. Because, just when Buchanan thought he was out; Anderson County, and his very popular podcast and partner, pulled him right back in…and thank God for it!

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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