Podcast: Tampa Bay Buccaneers High School Coach of the Year Mark Buchanan

There were many victories on the field for Indian Rocks Christian High School in 2022. But the biggest win was head coach Mark Buchanan's return to the sidelines.

After five years away from coaching as he battled cancer, Buchanan returned to coach Indian Rocks in 2022. He led the Golden Eagles to a 9-2 record and a playoff berth in Florida’s 1M classification.

As a result of his wins on and off the field, Coach Buchanan was named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022 High School Coach of the Year in December. He received a $2,000 grant from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation to help maintain and upgrade the school's football program, and was the club's nominee for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award. 

Related: See all 32 nominees for the Don Shula Award

Buchanan became the head coach at Indian Rocks in 2005. During his 13th season at the helm, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and stepped down as the program’s leader.

His battle with cancer ended after a successful stem cell transplant from his daughter, and he has been cancer-free for over two years.

Below, Coach Buchanan talks with High School Football America’s Jeff Fisher about his incredible journey.

Photo courtesy of Indian Rocks Christian Schools.