Today is the first time in 30 years that David Buchanan has not been a head high school football coach.
For 30 years David Buchanan has been a high school head coach and has seen some coaches stay too long at one place.
“When that happens, the kids and program suffer. Sometimes, it takes a long time to overcome that when it happens. I don’t want to be that guy,” said Buchanan Thursday.
That’s why Buchanan surprised almost everyone by announcing Thursday he was resigning as football coach at Mercer County.
“A guy gets one chance to leave a football program in better shape than he found it. That especially matters when you are in your hometown,” Buchan said.
He said Mercer should have its best offensive line/defensive line in eight years this season and continue to get better after that. He admits his returning skill players need to be faster but is confident track coach Terry Yeast will make that happen.
“The (COVID) repeat year has been and will be very good for Titan football. In 2022, several freshmen will compete for varsity playing time and potentially be starters on Friday nights. We have more guys in weight class than we have ever had over the past eight years,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan said strength and conditioning coach Jeremy Carlson is an elite part of the program and that the overall coaching staff and football finances are solid.
“Not only are things good now, but there is a good cushion built in that will give the next head coach a chance for early success and having good teams for several years after that,” Buchanan said.
“I started out 0-5. That is rough and not sure the effects ever went away completely. This gives the next coach his best chance and a great opportunity to be successful right out of the gate.”
Buchanan was 50-32 in seven seasons at Mercer — the Titans had four head coaches in seven years before Buchanan arrived — and got the Titans to the Class 4A state quarterfinals twice. He was 150-72 at Mason County from 1996-2014 and got two teams to the state semifinals. Before that he was head coach at Paris for four seasons and went 31-15 with two more state quarterfinal berths. Overall, he has a 231-119 mark.
Buchanan was president of the Kentucky Football Coaches Association in 2003 and again in 2020 and 2021. He was also head coach of the Kentucky all-stars that beat Tennessee 41-27 in 2005.
He says he will miss the “kids and coaches” more than anything else but felt a change would be beneficial for him and the program.
“I love coaching football and hope to return to the field someday. Until that time, I will enjoy each day in my role at Mercer County Schools, working to keep kids safe and helping them be successful,” Buchanan said. “I love our school, our community, and especially our kids.
“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.”
His son, Trosper, just finished his final season playing football for Mercer, another reason this might have been the best time for him to resign. However, David Buchanan’s father, John, was also a long-time high school coach and the Mercer coach learned a lot of football and life lessons from him.
“I have been around football since my Dad went to Boyle County (1969) and I was 4 years old. Tomorrow (Friday) will be my first day without football in my life,” Buchanan said.
“Not sure what I am facing, but have a great wife, family, and trust God with the future. One of the reasons I didn’t tell my coaches before I told the team is that I wasn’t sure I could do it.”
Buchanan says he has “super bosses” who will find the right coach for the returning Mercer players.
