Paulus Announces Assistant Coaches 
 
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Niagara men's basketball head coach Greg Paulus has announced assistant coaches ahead of the 2023-24 season, hiring Chris Buchanan as assistant coach and promoting Austin Kelley to assistant coach. 
 
Buchanan joins the Niagara men's basketball program after spending the 2022-23 season at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). 
 
"We welcome Chris and his fiancé Ashley to the Niagara basketball program," said Paulus. Chris is highly respected for his work ethic, humility, and ability to impact the people and places he has been positively. His vast experiences as a player and coach and his ability to develop and recruit student-athletes will make him a tremendous addition."
 
Before UTRGV, Buchanan was at Odessa College, where, as an assistant coach in 2021-22, he helped the team to the NJCAA Tournament Quarterfinals and an undefeated record in conference play. He executed and presented strategic scouting reports to the coaching staff and players, leading to an average margin of victory of 20 points. Buchanan coached an All-American and four All-Conference selections while recruiting current top Division I and junior college prospects. He also assisted with the team's academics, as the team finished the fall with a 3.56 GPA.
 
"I am very fortunate and humbled by the opportunity to join the Niagara men's basketball staff," said Buchanan. I look forward to assisting Coach Paulus and the staff in continuing to develop and grow the program. I am excited to get to know every student-athlete and get the best out of them on a daily basis, both on and off the court. Go Purple Eagles!""
 
Buchanan was an assistant coach at Portland from 2019-21 after serving as the assistant director of basketball operations since the summer of 2017. As one of the nation's youngest Division I assistant coaches, Buchanan recruited multiple All-West Coast Conference and Player of the Week selections. He prepared and presented scouting reports, collaborated with the strength & conditioning staff, and coordinated with academics. In his operations role, Buchanan managed day-to-day operations, including game day, practice and travel logistics, managing and training student managers, and implementing youth clinics and camps.
 
Before his time at Portland, Buchanan worked as the Assistant Director of Scouting for Anthony Ray's Arizona Preps from 2015-17 after working as an intern for the previous two years. His role included traveling to local, regional, and national tournaments to evaluate the organization's high school and junior college prospects. He co-ran the Arizona Preps Fall Showcase from 2015-17, which brought together many former Arizona area standouts and helped land local prospects college basketball scholarships.
 
Buchanan also worked many high-profile camps, including the Reebok All-American Headliners Camp, Arizona Preps Spring Showcase, West Coast Elite All-Star Camp, West Coast Elite's Spring High Academic Camp, John Lucas Enterprises Right Way Camp, and John Lucas Enterprises' International Middle School Combine.
 
Buchanan graduated from Arizona in May 2015 with a bachelor's in communications and a minor in sports management. While in Tucson, he worked for WildcatAuthority.com, a Scout.com affiliate website focused on Arizona basketball recruiting.
 
A McDonald's All-America nominee as a player at Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Buchanan went on to play two years at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash. He was a part of the Peninsula team that won the Northwest Athletic Associate of Community Colleges Championship as a freshman, and the team was ranked No. 15 nationally as a sophomore. The Pirates finished with a 47-13 overall record in his two years with the program.  
 
Kelley joined the Niagara men's basketball staff in 2020-21 as the director of basketball operations and has been in charge of the program's day-to-day operations while overseeing travel arrangements. Kelley's elevation to assistant coach comes following new NCAA legislation that increased the number of assistant coaching positions allowed for Division I basketball. Kelley can now assist with on-court coaching and skill instruction. 
 
In his new role, Kelley can aid the team in practices, scouting, and other basketball-related activities while continuing his operational duties. 
 
"This position allows Austin to teach and coach on the court, including assisting in our player development, video breakdowns of self and opponent scouting, and impacting our program positively. We believe in holistic development for our student-athletes. Having another assistant coach gives our program and student-athletes a chance to continue growing both on and off the court to become the best version of themselves."
 
Kelley spent two seasons (2018-20) on the George Washington men's basketball staff as the director of operations and recruiting coordinator. Kelley was in charge of day-to-day operations, travel arrangements, organizing team schedules, and alumni engagement.
 
Kelley came to GW after spending two years as the Elite Director with Hoop Group, a basketball company in New Jersey that runs camps, clinics, leagues, and tournaments. In that role, Kelley directed over 25 camps, including more than 3,500 players annually, while managing his department's budget and overseeing the operations of events with staff and camp coaches.
 
Before his stint at Hoop Group, Kelley coached at the high school level in D.C. for four years. He was an assistant varsity basketball coach at Gonzaga College High School from 2012-16. He also held positions with local AAU programs, first working for the DC Blue Devils (2013-14) and then The District Basketball Club (2014-16).
 
A native of West Almond, N.Y., Kelley received his bachelor of science in physical education from St. Bonaventure in 2011. He earned his master of science in health education from the State University of New York at Cortland in 2012.
 
Kelley resides in Grand Island, N.Y., with his wife Hannah and daughter Reese. 
 
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