World Lacrosse Welcomes TJ Buchanan as Director of Sport Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 May 2019

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA– A widely-respected leader in lacrosse with more than a decade of experience in the design and delivery of educational resources for athletes and coaches is joining the staff of World Lacrosse as its first-ever Director of Sport Development.
TJ Buchanan, who has held leadership positions in athlete and coach development with U.S. Lacrosse — the U.S. National Governing Body for the sport — since 2008, is beginning his duties with the international federation this month.
In his new role with World Lacrosse, Buchanan will report to Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr and work closely with Bob DeMarco, who oversees sport development on behalf of the organization’s Board of Directors, and Rick Mercurio, who serves as Chair of the World Lacrosse Development Committee, to design and implement strategies, tools and resources to further the growth of lacrosse worldwide.
Buchanan’s appointment was announced today by Scherr and follows an international search that produced a large number of outstanding candidates. Buchanan will be based in Pennsylvania.
Buchanan is the third senior-level appointment for World Lacrosse this year, as Scherr and President Sue Redfern continue strengthening the organization’s capabilities through the development of a full-time staff.  In January, Chief Brand and Communications Officer Darryl Seibel and Director of Development Aimee Dixon joined the World Lacrosse staff.
“I am both excited and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the development of lacrosse internationally,” said Buchanan.  “I believe the sport has made tremendous strides toward globalization and look forward to working with our current 62 member-nations as well as emerging nations to provide the best experience possible for all participants.”
“TJ brings a wealth of experience and an impressive record of success in the areas of athlete and coach development to our organization, and we are exceptionally pleased to welcome him to World Lacrosse,” said Scherr.
“Our ability to support, and accelerate, the growth of lacrosse worldwide is directly linked to the design and delivery of educational resources that support athletes and coaches in their own skill progression,” added Scherr.  “TJ’s appointment, along with the work being led by Bob DeMarco, Rick Mercurio and the Development Committee, will enable our organization to more effectively serve our member-National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations while fulfilling this critical objective.”
Buchanan’s work with U.S. Lacrosse has impacted more than 250,000 youth players and 40,000 coaches.  In 2008, he was appointed as one of 25 National Coach Development Trainers for the National Governing Body.  He has conducted over 100 Coach Development Clinics to provide coaches with the training and resources necessary to support athletes in reaching their full potential.
From 2012-15, Buchanan served as Program Manager, Coach Development for U.S. Lacrosse, where he was responsible for the design and development of the Coach Development Program content and curriculum for three levels of development, across both the men’s and women’s games, as well as specialty curricula. This included print and digital media, e-learning and live instructional clinics for coaches.
Beginning in 2015, Buchanan served as Technical Director, Athlete Development for U.S. Lacrosse, where he was responsible for all facets of the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model.  This included research, design and delivery of the model and its educational resources via print and digital media, live instructional clinics for coaches, and camps and clinics for athletes.
Buchanan is a Level 3-certified coach and coach developer for men’s and women’s lacrosse.
worldlacrosse.sport
Media Contact: Darryl Seibel
Email:dseibel@worldlacrosse.sport