Buchanan started on the University of San Francisco’s celebrated 1955 national championship basketball team alongside Bill Russell and K.C Jones, and later was a beloved coach and teacher at Redwoo…
At 6-feet, 2-inches tall, Stan Buchanan was not the biggest player on the basketball court, but he was always “larger than life,” according to his friends.
“As a player for him, he was the ultimate mental coach,” said Beth Fernbacher, who played tennis at Redwood under Mr. Buchanan’s tutelage. “He was really good about finding what made you play best and how to work well with teammates in an individual sport. He also taught us how to grow up a bit.” Mr. Buchanan, who grew up in San Francisco, helped USF win the first of back-to-back NCAA titles as a senior in the 1954-55 season. Playing at forward often against bigger opponents, Mr. Buchanan was a defensive ace for the Dons. The squad, coached by Phil Woolpert, featured future NBA stars Russell and Jones — as well as Mr. Buchanan, Jerry Mullen and Hal Perry — and went 28-1 including a 26-game win streak capped by a 77-63 victory over La Salle for the title.
Mr. Buchanan, who always treasured his friendships, said of his senior year with the Dons, “To be able to receive beautiful passes from the incomparable K.C. Jones and pass the ball to the magnificent Bill Russell, and play alongside of the outstanding Jerry Mullen and effervescent Harold Perry was a sports memory to be cherished. I never wanted to let these great players down and the memories are overwhelming.
“His philosophy was about enjoying the process of life, whether in sports or relationships,” said Fernbacher, who went on to play tennis at Cal. Mr. Buchanan had a flair for the dramatic, but also an intelligent wit, that he brought to the stage with the Ross Valley Players and Redwood High theater revues, and to the tennis courts.
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