PORTLAND, Ore. – Chris Buchanan has been promoted to the role of assistant coach, University of Portland men's basketball head coach Terry Porter announced on Friday. Buchanan joined the staff in the summer of 2017 as the assistant director of basketball operations.
Buchanan gained significant experience and took on many duties within the program over the last two years. He has been operating as an interim assistant coach for the last two months and has been instrumental in recruiting.
"Chris deserves this opportunity," Porter said. "He works extremely hard, has been invaluable in our recruiting efforts, and undoubtedly gained the trust of our staff and players over the last two seasons. This is a great step for him professionally and Chris will add a lot to our coaching staff."
"I am excited to stay with the University of Portland basketball program in this new role," Buchanan said. "Coach Porter has trusted me since I joined the staff and I will continue to do everything I can to help this program. I can't wait to help our guys improve this summer and I am looking forward to a great 2019-20 season."
Prior to his time on The Bluff, Buchanan worked as the Assistant Director of Scouting for Anthony Ray's Arizona Preps from 2015-17 after working as an intern the previous two years. His role included traveling to local, regional and national tournaments to evaluate high school and junior college prospects for the organization. He co-ran the Arizona Preps Fall Showcase from 2015-17 which brought together many former Arizona area standouts and helped land local prospects college basketball scholarships.
Buchanan also worked many high-profile camps including the Reebok All-American Headliners Camp- Arizona, Arizona Preps Spring Showcase, West Coast Elite All-Star Camp – Arizona, West Coast Elite's Spring High Academic Camp, John Lucas Enterprises Right Way Camp, and John Lucas Enterprises' International Middle School Combine.
Buchanan graduated from the University of Arizona in May, 2015 with a degree in Communications and minor in Sports Management. While in Tucson, he worked for WildcatAuthority.com, a Scout.com affiliate web site that focused on Arizona basketball recruiting.
A McDonalds All-America nominee as player at Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Ariz., Buchanan went on to play two years at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash. He was a part of the Peninsula team that won the Northwest Athletic Associate of Community Colleges Championship as a freshman and the team was ranked No. 15 nationally as a sophomore. The Pirates finished with a 47-13 overall records in his two years with the program.
