SENIORS JUNIORS SOPHOMORES FRESHMEN IT”S A NEW ERA OF PANTHER BASKETBALL Head coach Lee Buchanan (above) speaking at his introductory press conference on May 29, 2012. Buchanan Takes Over EIU Women’s Hoops Program Former associate head coach becomes program’s seventh head coach (Below is the press release from Buchanan’s hiring on May 29, 2012) CHARLESTON, Ill. – Invoking a quote from Abraham Lincoln one of Illinois most famous figures, Lee Buchanan spoke before a packed room in the Lantz Arena Club Room on Monday morning as he was officially introduced as the seventh head women’s basketball coach in the history of the Eastern Illinois University program. Buchanan stated that Lincoln once said, “I will prepare and someday my opportunity will come.” For Buchanan that opportunity to become a NCAA Division I head coach has been a 26-year endeavor including the last five spent as an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois. “I have prepared a long time for this opportunity. 26-years in this business,” Buchanan said. “I’m excited and elated for the opportunity to be the head coach at Eastern Illinois. I would like to thank EIU President Dr. William Perry, Dr. Dan Nadler (VP for Student Affairs) and Athletic Director Barbara Burke. I also would like to thank my two biggest supporters, my wife of 30-years Lisa and our son Austin.” Buchanan came to Eastern Illinois in 2007 as an assistant coach leaving a head coaching job at Pfeiffer University, where he had been the head coach at the North Carolina based NCAA Division II school for only three months. During his first season on head coach Brady Sallee’s staff, Buchanan helped the Panthers break through for an upper division finish in the Ohio Valley Conference race as the team lost in the OVC Tournament Championship game. The Panthers continued to build upon that success over the next four seasons as Buchanan was promoted to associate head coach. EIU would win 20-plus games in three of the next four seasons including reaching post-season play in each of the last three years. EIU won its first OVC regular season title in 2010 playing in the Women’s NIT. The program has played in the Women’s Basketball Invitational in 2011 and the Women’s NIT in 2012. Over the past five seasons EIU has amassed 106 wins with three appearances in the OVC Tournament Championship game, the most successful five-year run in program history. [ 3 ] www.eiupanthers.com eastern illinois women’s basketball “Eastern Illinois has become a very successful brand of women’s basketball over the past five years and Lee Buchanan has been a part of that success,” Perry said. “He has been a winner as a head coach and a winner as an assistant coach. He has been part of the success here at EIU. Those were all major factors in having Lee take over this program.” “This national search allowed me to really get to know and evaluate Lee and hear his vision for the Eastern Illinois women’s program,” Burke said. “We have a solid foundation that Lee has been part of building. It is now time for this program to take that next step and reach a new level. We should have that expectation for this program and Lee is the right person to help Panther women’s basketball take that next step.” When talking about his passion for coaching Buchanan stated, “I can teach this game. I love the X’s and O’s of basketball. I love the preparation for games. I’m excited to lead this team to new heights and that tournament championship we have all dreamed about.” Winning has been part of Buchanan’s career as a successful head coach at the NCAA Division II and NAIA level prior to coming to EIU in 2007. He won 123 games over eight years at the NCAA Division II level as the head coach at Missouri St. Louis (2003-07) and Francis Marion (1998-02). While at Francis Marion he led the team to three straight NCAA Division II Tournaments from 1999-01 reaching the Sweet 16 each season. His 1999 team finished the season ranked No. 9 in the nation while leading the country in 3-point field goal percentage. Buchanan’s first head coaching stop was at Brescia University where he was the program’s leader in career wins. He served 12 years as the head coach winning 230 games from 1986-98. His teams won three conference championships, advanced to three NAIA Tournaments and won one regional title to advance to the NAIA Final Eight. In addition to his time as a head coach, Buchanan was an assistant coach for one season at Brescia and the associate head coach at Southern Mississippi for one season (2002-03). “I consider myself to be an excellent motivator and communicator,” Buchanan said in summing up his coaching style. “I believe if you have a head coach who can motivate and communicate, then you can create an atmosphere where dreams no longer seem impossible. I want to thank the EIU campus and community for their support of myself and this team.” A graduate of Murray State (1983) with a master’s degree from Eastern Illinois (2009), Buchanan must now set upon the task of hiring a new staff as former assistants on coach Brady Sallee’s staff – Rachel Galligan and Quacy Timmons – are leaving to explore other career opportunities. “For the past week since I’ve been hired as the head coach, I’ve also been filling role of the second assistant, the third assistant and the fourth assistant,” Buchanan joked. “Now we move forward with taking this program to the next level.” [ 4 ] www.eiupanthers.com eastern illinois women’s basketball Eastern Illinois Women’s Basketball by the numbers since 2007... The Panthers captured the school’s first Ohio EIU has advanced to three consecutive 1 Valley Conference title in 2010. 3 postseason tournaments. The Panthers advanced to the WNIT in 2010 and 2012 and the WBI in 2011. EIU has 12 All-Ohio Valley Conference 12 selections, including six first-team honorees. Senior Ta’Kenya Nixon has been named Ohio 2 Valley Conference ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ One player has been named the Ohio Valley on two occasions, earning the award in 2010 and 1 Conference ‘Freshman of the Year’ with 2012. Ta’Kenya Nixon earning the honors in 2010. EIU has won 80 percent of its Ohio The Panthers have won 106 games since .806 Valley Conference contests, posting 106 the start of the 2007-08 season. EIU has a 75-18 conference record. posted a .658 winning percentage over the past five seasons. The 72 Ohio Valley Conference wins is 72 the most conference wins by an OVC The Panthers have made it challenging team over the last five seasons. .819 for opponents to win inside Lantz Arena, posting a 59-13 record - a .819 winning percentage. EIU has won five Ohio Valley Conference Team 5 Academic Achievement Awards for posting the highest grade point average among OVC EIU has had five players earn the Ohio Valley women’s basketball team. Most recently, 5 Conference Medal of Honor for having a 4.00 the squad won the award for the 2011-12 grade point average. Most recently, junior academic year. Taryn Olson posted a 4.00 GPA during the 2011-12 academic year. The Panthers have ranked in the Women’s 3 Basketball Coaches Associations Academic Top-25 three times. [ 5 ] www.eiupanthers.com eastern illinois women’s basketball Eastern Illinois Women’s Basketball by the numbers since 2007... School Overall Record Winning % Illinois State 124-46 .729 DePaul 116-52 .690 Creighton 102-61 .663 EASTERN ILLINOIS 106-55 .658 Drake 90-69 .566 Missouri State 91-70 .565 Ball State 73-83 .529 Bradley 83-74 .529 Indiana State 76-77 .497 Chicago State 74-79 .484 Wichita State 77-82 .484 Illinois-Chicago 68-83 .450 Illinois 69-93 .426 Northern Illinois 62-87 .416 SIU-Edwardsville 59-87 .404 Northwestern 63-94 .401 St. Louis 51-80 .389 Loyola (IL) 56-95 .371 Western Illinois 54-97 .358 Evansville 53-104 .338 Southern Illinois 34-113 .231 [ 6 ] www.eiupanthers.com 2012-13 panther basketball TABLE OF CONTENTS 2012-13 season PREVIEW record BOOK Quick Facts 8 Championship teams 44 Schedule 9 1,000 point club members 45-48 Credits Rosters 10-11 Individual season records 49 The 2012-13 Eastern Illinois women’s basketball Preview 12-13 Team season records 49 media guide is a product of the Panther Opponent Information 14-18 Individual single-game records 50 athletic media services department under the Team single-game records 50 supervision of associate athletics director for coaching staff Individual career records 51 media and public relations, Rich Moser. Head coach Lee Buchanan 20-21 Annual statistical leaders 52-53 Assistant coaches 22 Award winners 54 The basketball media guide was designed and Series history vs opponents 55 edited by assistant sports information director student-athlete profiles Miscellaneous records 56 Greg Lautzenheiser. Additional assistance Returners 23-35 provided by athletics photographer/graphic Newcomers 36 University information designer Sandy King. Photo credits and cover University President Dr. Perry 57 design by Sandy King. 2011-12 IN REVIEW Director of Athletics Barbara Burke 57 Statistics 37-42 University at a glance 58 Individuals on the front cover include seniors Hillary Held (21), Sydney Mitchell (33), Ta’Kenya Nixon (15), Kelsey Wyss (4) and Mariah King (51).