Ossie Buchannon enters his eighth season coaching the wide receivers at Kennesaw State and third as the Special Teams Coordinator in 2024. The former standout at Samford University was hired on April 28, 2017.
In his first season overseeing the Owls' special teams, KSU placed two specialists on the ASUN All-Conference team. Kicker Connor Cummins was selected as the ASUN Specialist of the Year after setting a program record for the longest field goal with a 50-yard blast at Eastern Kentucky. Kick/punt returner Gabriel Benyard also received accolades after setting a school record for most punt return yards in a single game with 117 versus Charleston Southern.
The 2023 season saw KSU begin its first year transitioning to the FBS and a new offense from a flexbone-based option attack to a pistol offense. In just the third game of the season, KSU single-game record for passing yards (309), completions (17) and pass attempts (31). His special teams produced Gabriel Benyard's career-long 84-yard kickoff return and Joshua Huiet averaged42.9 yards per punt, with eight punts of 50+ yards and 11 inside the opponent's 20.
During the 2021 fall season, Buchannon's receiving core helped KSU quarterback Xavier Shepherd set a new school record for passing yards in a single season (1,341) and most passing touchdowns in a single season (15). Buchannon's receivers also helped the Owls record back-to-back games with four receiving touchdowns for the first time in school history. Kennesaw State had eight different players register a receiving touchdown over the course of the fall season.
In just his first season, Buchannon oversaw the continued development of Justin Sumpter, one of the top receivers in the Big South, finishing second in yards per catch (43.6) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (five). Even in a ground-attack offense, Sumpter ranked sixth in the league with 33 receptions for 610 yards and five touchdowns.
Sumpter's career blossomed under Buchannon, becoming KSU's all-time career leader with 111 catches for 1,989 yards and 21 touchdowns. He finished the 2018 campaign fifth in the Big South with four touchdown receptions and eighth in receiving yards with 316.
Buchannon came to the Owls from Berry College in Mount Berry, Ga., where he had a successful run coaching the wide receivers for four seasons. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Buchannon served as special team’s coordinator, was the academic coordinator, and also coached the jumpers on the track team.
Under Buchannon, Vikings' receivers Chris Lilly and Trey Ciresi compiled two of the top careers in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). Lilly was a four-time All-SAA selection and finished his career with 2,543 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Ciresi was a two-time All-SAA pick and reeled in 2,060 yards and 22 TDs in three seasons.
Including Lilly and Ciresi, Buchannon has coached seven student-athletes to all-conference recognition in his career.
Prior to Berry, Buchannon spent four seasons on the staff at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., where he coached the defensive backs from 2009-13. While there, he coached with former Owls and current Navy defensive coordinator Brian Newberry.
A graduate of Samford with a degree in business administration, Buchannon was a four-year letterwinner (2001-05) as a wide receiver for the Bulldogs. He left as the team’s third all-time leading receiver, was a team captain and offensive MVP as a senior.
Buchannon spent one year playing professionally with the Birmingham Steeldogs of the Arena2 league.
Buchannon and his wife, Nikki, reside in Smyrna, Ga.
