Like most professions, the job of athletic director often requires a few steps up the ladder before one finally finds themselves at the top. Brian Buchanan has not only stepped into a new position that he believes to be at the top but also one he hopes is a longtime home as the new athletic director at Southgate Anderson High School.

Buchanan replaces Mitch Dobek, serving on an interim basis as athletic coordinator, athletic director and coordinating athletic director.

“I'm really excited to be here,” Buchanan said. “There are so many opportunities here that we can take advantage of and show the community, show the families that come to games that we not only represent ourselves well on the field but also off the field. We want to put on a show and make those Friday nights special for everyone and create strong programs in all sports.”

Buchanan, whose first day on the job was July 1, will also be helping with Davidson Middle School.

Sharon Irvine, superintendent of Southgate Community Schools, is pleased to have Buchanan on the Titans roster.

“Brian shows incredible enthusiasm for growing and strengthening Titan athletics, starting as early as elementary school,” she said. “We are investing in an athletic infrastructure that will provide high-quality athletic opportunities for our students across grade levels, culminating in high-performing varsity experiences. Brian's collaborative style, energetic initiative and experience will provide great leadership to our new athletic management team.”

Buchanan, a 1998 graduate of Saline High School, received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Eastern Michigan University, and took a job in security at Saline High School.

“At that time they also asked me if I wanted to help coach football, so that was my introduction into high school athletics,” he said. “I fell in love with not only football but teaching the game and coaching high school students. I soon started coaching baseball and
girls basketball.”

As for criminal justice?

“It just wasn’t for me,” he said. “But I found something I really wanted to do so no regrets at all.”

During his time at Saline, Buchanan was the head coach of the freshman football team, junior varsity assistant for the baseball team and head coach of the girls freshman basketball team. Around this time, he also received a teacher certification, secondary social studies, at U-M Dearborn.

Buchanan began his climb up the ladder, leaving Saline to take a job as the JV head football coach at Skyline High School, and also worked as a behavior interventionist in the Ann Arbor School District.

After working in Ann Arbor for about eight years, he took a job as the athletic director at All Saints Catholic school in Canton.

“I thought that would be a great direction to go in my career and my daughter was going to school there so it was just a great situation for me both personally and professionally,” he said.

After two years at All Saints, Buchanan got the AD job at Dearborn Heights Annapolis, where he served for three years.

“I'm proud of where we left Annapolis, and I feel like I left them in a good situation,” he said. “I was happy there, but when I saw Southgate had an opening I decided to apply. I had a good feeling immediately and felt part of the community because everybody was so nice during the process. I felt at home on my first visit.”

Buchanan and his wife, Laura, have two children, Kylie (10) and Zach (5).