Ex-Greenfield Hoops Coach Dave Buchanan at Drake University

It’s been nearly 15 years since Dave Buchanan led the Greenfield boys basketball team to its first Woodland Conference title in 31 years.

It was the 1998-99 season, Buchanan’s second of a five-year stay with the Hustlin’ Hawks, and arguably the most successful hoops campaign in school history.

That success has followed Buchanan over the years. Since leaving Greenfield for the head-coaching job at Brookfield East, where he spent only one season, he’s been a top assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and head coach at both UW-Superior and Carroll College.

Now he’s at Drake University, and NCAA Division 1 program in Des Moines, IA, as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Bulldogs.

Greenfield Patch caught up with the former Hustlin’ Hawks coach three months into his new job at Drake:

Patch: What does the Director of Basketball Operations do? And what was it about the position that interested you the most?

DB: The Director of Operations position involves numerous facets of the program. I’m primarily responsible for academics, summer camps, community relations, scheduling, compliance, and team travel. In addition, I assist with scouting and game preparation.

I was primarily attracted to this job because of the new staff. Ray Giacoletti is a great coach, and an even better person, and he assembled quality people that I knew I would really enjoy being surrounded by. (Assistant coaches) Jeff Rutter and Todd Townsend also have Wisconsin ties, which made the position a great fit as well.

Patch: You're now with a NCAA Division 1 program; was this always something you were striving for? And is becoming a head coach of a D1 program your ultimate goal?

DB: I’ve always been pretty motivated to coach at the highest level that I can. However, I haven’t made moves in my career just for the sake of moving. Our Carroll team returned a great deal of players from last year, and I was pretty blessed to have great kids, and a winning culture. However, this was a unique opportunity to coach at Division I, learn from experienced coaches that are also great people, and to advance my career to a higher level with a lot of room for growth.

My ultimate goal is to become a head coach at the Division I level. For that reason and all of the benefits of moving to Drake, this was the right time to make this transition.

Patch: What do you remember most about your years coaching the Hustlin' Hawks, and what have you carried with you all these years as you've moved up the ranks?

DB: I have many great memories of coaching at Greenfield, and it is amazing how quickly the time goes by. I can guarantee you that I’ll never forget all of the work, and commitment from the players during my five years there. People like John Wasikowski, Nick Smith, Carlo Emanuele, DJ Cartledge, Andy Butts, Jimmy Lidwin, Dan Kwiatkowski, and so many more, were instrumental in our success, and gave everything they had.

If I had to pick a highlight, it would have to be Carlo hitting the game winning shot against New Berlin West over Jason Chappell to win the Conference Championship on the final regular season game in 1999. Jason would go on to play for Wisconsin, and his brother John to South Carolina. It was the first championship for Greenfield basketball in 31 years. The crowd stormed the court, and our players accomplished a goal that they worked so very hard for. It was truly an amazing atmosphere. I’ll never forget it.

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