Hendrix College Men's Football

Alma Mater: Austin College, 1998 Seasons: Twelve Justin "Buck" Buchanan enters his into his 12th year as the head coach of the Hendrix Warriors in 2024. In 2023, Buchanan's Warriors led the SAA in passing with 345.9 yards per game. Quarterback Jacob Buniff led all of the NCAA in yards passing per game and passing touchdowns through the first five weeks of the season. Hendrix produced eight 2023 All-SAA selections, including Christian Gadison, Parker Turley, and Buniff, who were all named Second Team All-SAA Offense. The Warriors won their most conference contests since 202-21, with one of those wins coming in a 50-49 thriller against Rhodes at War Memorial Stadium. The 2022 season was highlighted by shutout wins over Austin College and Rhodes. Five Warriors were selected to the All-SAA teams. Tajae White was named 1st Team All-SAA after a standout season as both a receiver and a return specialist, and Jacob Wood was named SAA Offensive Player of the Week after throwing four touchdowns against Sewanee on Oct. 15. In 2021, the first full season of play following the COVID-19 pandemic, Hendrix went 3-7 and landed four players on the All-SAA teams, including Chris Childress, whose 13 touchdown receptions ranks second in single-season touchdown receptions in program history. In a shortened 2020-21 season, the Warriors swept the SAA West to advance to the SAA Championship game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, where they fell 21-20 to the Berry Vikings. 13 players from that Warrior team were named All-SAA, including Adonnis Butler, who was later named a 2nd-team All-American. Buchanan led the Warriors to a 7-3 record on the 2019 year with a fourth-place finish in the SAA standings. Hendrix had six different SAA Player of the Week recipients while Hunter Lawrence earned Google Cloud All-District Academic honors and Sandy Burks was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week. Eight players went on to earn All-SAA honors as well. For the 2018 season, Buchanan coached one D3football.com Preseason All-American, three D3football.com National Team of the Week recipients, 10 All-SAA awardees and one D3football.com All-South Region player. Running back Kip VanHoose led the entire SAA in rushing while punter Garrett Wolf received the Little Rock Touchdown Award. In 2017, Buchanan led Hendrix to a program-best 8-2 record that included a third-place finish in the SAA. Buchanan also coached the 2017 SAA Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Miles Thompson. Thompson completed completed one of the most prolific seasons in college football after passing for 3,472 yards and 37 scores while running for 552 yards and 10 touchdowns as well. In 2016, the Warriors garnered their first national ranking, making it as high as #22 in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll. Hendrix went 7-3 and broke the NCAA Division III record with 600 yards of total offense per game. The Warriors also ranked first in the nation in pass efficiency and completion percentage, were second in third down and fourth down conversion percentage, third in passing offense, seventh in scoring offense, eighth in first downs, 28th in sacks allowed and 33rd in rushing offense and tackles for loss allowed and 41st in tackles for loss. In 2015, Hendrix ranked 19th in the nation in pass efficiency and 28th in total offense with 472.3 yards per game. Buchanan also led the Warriors to a Southern Athletic Association championship with an 8-3 overall record and a trip to the NCAA Division III Playoffs in 2015. He was named the SAA Coach of the Year and the AFCA Division III Region 3 Coach of the Year. In 2014, the Warriors improved to a 6-4 record in just their second year since bringing back the program. The Orange & Black led the SAA with 302.2 passing yards per game, 68.3 completion percentage, 462.9 total offense yards per contest and a 44.1 third down conversion percentage. The Warriors ranked third in the nation in completion percentage, 15th in passing yards, 20th in first downs and 27th in total offense. In 2013, Hendrix won their first game since the 1960 season in the first contest of the season - a 46-44 home victory over Westminster College on a last second field goal. The Warriors went on to win two more games, finishing 3-7. Hendrix led the Southern Athletic Association with 287.7 passing yards per game, and was second with 420.8 total offense yards. They were also 20th in the NCAA in passing and 44th in scoring offense with 33.7 points per game. In seven seasons, Buchanan has coached 26 All-SAA First Team selections, 14 second team selections and 38 honorable mentions. He also coached 39 SAA Players of the Week and 22 D3football.com National Team of the Week selections, eight D3football.com All-Region selections, seven CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees and one CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team selection. Running back Dayton Winn was named the SAA Newcomer of the Year in 2013 and was the SAA Offensive Player of the Year, AFCA All-America Third Team and AP Little All-America selection in 2015. Winn was also the only junior Gagliardi Trophy Semi-Finalist in 2015. He repeated as the SAA Player of the Year and AFCA First Team All-American in 2016, and was once again a Gagliardi Trophy Semi-Finalist. Quarterback Seth Peters was the 2014 SAA Offensive Player of the Year and kicker Steve Crenshaw was the SAA Special Teams Player of the Year. Buchanan is no stranger in the rebooting of dormant programs. He helped restart the program at Louisiana College in Pineville as an original staff member in 1999. Buchanan served as the Wildcats' associate head coach from 2006-11 and helped guide LC to four consecutive 7-3 records and a top 25 ranking in his final season. Buchanan served as the Wildcats' defensive coordinator in 2005 and from 2007-11 as he built one of the top-ranked defenses in NCAA Division III. In his final year in Pineville, Buchanan's defense ranked nationally in tackles for loss, sacks, defensive pass efficiency and turnovers. He also coached the American Southwest Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year. During the 2007, Buchanan was the offensive coordinator. Buchanan’s offense was nationally ranked in passing and total offense. He coached the ASC Freshman of the Year at quarterback who later became Gagliardi Finalist, Mehlberger award winner, and won a gold medal with the United States National Team. In the summers, Buchanan coached, taught and coordinated American football camps in Sweden, Finland and Czech Republic. Buchanan was a defensive line coach coach at Austin (Texas) for two seasons (1998-99) and assistant women's basketball coach for three seasons (1996-98). Buchanan played nose tackle for Austin for four seasons (1993-95, 1997) and medically redshirted in 1996.  Off the field, Buchanan was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1997. Buchanan earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications and Bachelor of Arts in exercise sport science from Austin and graduated cum laude in 1998. He received a Master of Arts in Teaching in speech and exercise sport science from Austin in 1999. A native of Denison, Texas, Buchanan attended Denison High School. Buck and his wife, Dr. Michelle Buchanan, reside in Conway.  

Shawn Weigel enters into his first year as head coach of the Hendrix men's and women's track and field teams in 2025. He will also serve as defensive backs coach with the Warriors football program. Weigel comes to Conway after a four-year stint as the head football coach at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. Prior to being promoted to head coach, he spent nine seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the Cardinals. In his time at William Jewell, Weigel produced 20 All-Great Lakes Valley Conference performers, including three first-team selections, and 105 Academic All-GLVC selections. The Cardinals also had 14 GLVC Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award winners during his head coaching tenure. In addition to his time at William Jewell, Weigel served as the defensive coordinator at Colorado School of Mines and was instrumental in helping the Orediggers record their first seven win season in more than three decades. Prior to Mines, he spent time as the defensive secondary coach at West Texas A&M. While with the Buffaloes, he tutored Kareem Larimer, a future fourth round pick in the NFL draft. Weigel's college coaching experience has also included a stint at Austin College, while he also served as the head coach for the Seinajoki Crocodiles in the European Football League. In 1998, Weigel was named the American Southwest Conference women's track and field coach of the year. Weigel is a 1991 graduate of Doane College, where he was an indoor track and field All-American in the high hurdles. He was also a national qualifier in the 400m IM hurdles, 4x100m relay, triple jump, and the 4x400m relay. On the gridiron, Weigel was a team captain and an All-State College team selection as a return specialist. In 1991, he led the nation in punt return average and returned three kicks for touchdowns. A native of McCook, Neb., Weigel holds a bachelor's degree in sociology, sports management and physical education from Doane as well as a master's degree from East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M - Commerce). He and his wife Buffey reside in Conway with their daughter, Lainee Jo, and their stepdaughter, Mallory.

Juan “Mike” Olvera enters his second year as an offensive assistant for Hendrix College Football and his first year for Hendrix College Flag Football. In 2022, Olvera led the Austin Sound of the X-League Women’s Professional football league to a semi-final appearance and multiple individual and team awards including his 4th Coach of the year nomination. In 2019, Olvera lead the Austin Acoustic of the Legends Football women’s professional league to their first undefeated regular season in franchise history and the team’s second playoff appearance. He was awarded his first of 2 Coach of the Year awards, and the Austin Acoustic were awarded Offensive Player of the year and the League’s MVP award. In 2018 Coach Olvera lead the Austin Acoustic to its first playoff appearance and Western Conference Championship. He earned his 1st Coach of the Year Award. From 2015 to 2018, Olvera joined the staff at St Joseph’s Catholic High School in Bryan, Texas where he coached Football and Track. He produced multiple TAPPS state champions in both triple and long jump while assisting the football staff as a wide receivers coach. In 2013, he joined the football staff at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. There, Olvera was assigned as the Offensive Line coach and in 2014 he was named the Offensive Line Coach and Assistant Offensive Coordinator. In his first year with the Cougars, Coach Olvera assisted in leading the Cougars to the University’s first conference championship appearance in school history. The Cougar’s won the program’s first bowl game trophy, winning the 2014 Doughboy Bowl. From 2005 to 2013,Olvera coached several Elite High School Club Football programs to include the Phenix City Red Devils in Phenix City Alabama and the Fort Hood Warriors in Central Texas. Olvera began his coaching career in 1999 as the Head Track and Field Coach for the South Texas Athletic Association. Coach Olvera is a 20-year veteran of the United States Army where he served as a 19D Cavalry Scout and as a Commissioned Officer 19C Cavalry Officer. Coach Olvera deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, 2006, and 2009. Coach Olvera served his final deployment to Northern Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from 2020-2021. Coach Olvera has been awarded a Bronze Star, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 2 Army Commendation Medals, 3 Army Achievement Medals, Iraqi Campaign Medal (3 Stars), and the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal Olvera played wide receiver for Austin College in Sherman, Texas from 1993-1997. He was also a four-year track and field athlete at Austin College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science Olvera is a native of San Benito in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and was a multi-sport athlete earning All-State honors in both football and track. He is the proud father of two sons, Mathew Ryan Reed, a former 4-year baseball letterman for Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and Cristian Nathaniel Olvera, a former fullback for Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska.

Alma Mater: Illinois College, 2014 Seasons: Second Zach Schultz enters into his second season as the Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator for the Hendrix Warriors. "I'm honored to join the Hendrix Football family as Defensive Coordinator. I couldn't be more thankful to Coach Buchanan, and Coach Weaver for this opportunity. I am dedicated to developing a strong group of student-athletes both on, and off the field. I am eager to execute Coach Buchanan's vision for Hendrix Football!" Schultz comes to Hendrix after spending the 2022 season as the Special Teams Coordinator & Defensive Back's Coach for SAA rival Sewanee: The University of the South. While at Sewanee, Schultz had two players, Daniel May & Kaleb Seay, finish top 10 in the SAA for Passes Defended & 1 player, Kaleb Seay, top 10 in the SAA for Interceptions.  Prior to Sewanee, Schultz spent the 2021 season at Knox College as the Defensive Coordinator / Linebacker's Coach / Recruiting Coordinator. During his lone season with Knox, the Praire Fire had a top 5 defense in the Midwest Conference and 1 Second-Team All-MWC player on the defensive side of the ball in Ean Rau.  Schultz spent the previous four years on the football staff at Sewanee: The University of the South where he served as the Tigers defensive backs coach and coached eight all-conference selections.    Before Sewanee, Schultz spent a year as a graduate assistant coach at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. He coached the defensive line, while also serving as video coordinator and assistant strength and conditioning coordinator.   Prior to that, Schultz served as a football assistant at Illinois Wesleyan University, working with the defensive line.   A 2014 graduate of Illinois College with a degree in exercise science, Schultz played four seasons as a defensive lineman for the Blueboys.   Schultz earned a master's degree in Sports Psychology at Illinois State University in 2016.

Alma Mater: SAU Magnolia, 1995 Seasons: Seven Follow Coach Phillips on Twitter Russ Phillips enters his seventh season on staff with the Hendrix football program in 2024 and sixth as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In 2023, Phillips offense led the SAA in passing with 345.9 yards per game. Quarterback Jacob Buniff led all of the NCAA in yards passing per game and passing touchdowns through the first five weeks of the season. Hendrix produced eight 2023 All-SAA selections, including Christian Gadison, Parker Turley, and Buniff, who were all named Second Team All-SAA Offense. Phillips joined the coaching staff in July 2018 and worked as the offensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator in 2019. Coach Phillips played for the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders from 1991-1995 where he also met his wife, Heidi. Following his college playing days, the two moved to Texas. Coach Phillips started out at Lewisville High School and spent 13 years there; serving as the offensive coordinator for the last four seasons there. Following his days at Lewisville High School, Coach Phillips received a head coaching opportunity at Ponder, Texas, a small 2-A school. He coached there three years before obtaining a coaching position at Denton Guyer High School in Denton, Texas. In just his first season at Denton Guyer, Coach Phillips helped lead the Wildcats to its second-straight 4A Division I Texas State Championship after a 31-14 victory over Brennan High School in the title game. In his three seasons at Denton Guyer, Coach Phillips served as the wide receivers coach, head boys track coach, and was the assistant strength and conditioning coordinator. Following his days at Denton Guyer, Coach Phillips ended up at Southlake Carroll High School for the past two seasons. Coach Phillips' duties included coaching the running backs and serving as the head strength and conditioning director. He also worked with sprinters and relays in track & field at Southlake Carroll. Phillips earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Southern Arkansas in 1995.  

Mason Doerr '20 enters his fourth season as the Hendrix wide receivers coach in 2023. Doerr has had at least one wide receiver placed on the All-SAA team in all three of his seasons as the wide receivers coach after Tajae White secured 1st Team All-SAA honors after a stellar 2022 season. In 2021, Chris Childress was named All-SAA after hauling in 13 touchdown receptions, which ranks second in single-season touchdown receptions in program history. In the 2020-21 COVID-shortened season, wide receiver Blake Hinton earned All-SAA honors for the third time in his career . Doerr joins the coaching staff of his alma mater after wrapping up a four-year career as a quarterback (2016-19). Doerr played in 16 contests in his career and completed 54.4 percent (129-of-237) of his passes for 1,476 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with one rushing score. In 2019, Doerr was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society. A native of Frisco, Texas, Doerr attended Wakeland High School. Mason is married to Brittany (Pauly), and the two reside in North Little Rock, Ark.   THE DOERR FILE 2020-23: Hendrix Wide Receivers Coach

Alma Mater: Hendrix, 2019 Seasons: Four Keith Taylor '19 enters his second season as Offensive Line coach after having served as Tight Ends the previous two seasons. Taylor joined the staff of his alma mater after capping a four-year career (2015-2018) as an offensive lineman. As a freshmen, Taylor helped the Warriors to its first-ever SAA title in just the third year of the program's existence following its resurrection in 2013. The Warriors finished 8-3 (7-1) and earned the program's first-ever birth to the NCAA playoffs. A native of Little Rock, Ark., Taylor attended Mills University Studies High School. He graduated from Hendrix in 2019 with a B.A. in Biology.