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2020 - 2022 Held a leadership position for 30+ years including First Vice-President before becoming AAU President/CEO in 2020. Forty-eighth president of the AAU, Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan began in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in the 400 hurdles at the AAU National Championships in the late 1970’s. A pioneer in sports marketing, Buchanan has been a key figure in, and greatly impacted the explosive growth of amateur youth sports across the United States. In 1991, following stints at sportswear powerhouses Adidas and Kaepa, he founded the Buchanan Company, which was the exclusive management arm of one of the first sports commissions in the United States, serving Brevard County/Space Coast of Florida. Over the years, Buchanan hosted hundreds of successful amateur sport events in the Space Coast Florida area, and the state of Florida, generating millions of dollars in economic impact. These events included AAU basketball national championships and several AAU Junior Olympic Games (1990,1991, 1994, 2000, 2021). His extensive sports ties earned him a spot on the 1994 World Cup organizing committee for Orlando. In the mid-1990’s, Buchanan was instrumental in making WALT DISNEY WORLD® in Lake Buena Vista, Florida the “Home of the AAU” serving in several capacities to help make the partnership a reality. This included working to develop and execute the conceptual, contractual, and operational aspects for the agreement. In 1996, the AAU relocated its offices from Indianapolis, Indiana to Lake Buena Vista and, in 1997, starting hosting events at what is now known as the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. He has brought his vision and passion for sports to numerous boards including the Florida Sports Foundation and the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Federation. Furthering his Olympic ties, Buchanan was part of the select group honored with carrying the Olympic torch through Brevard County in 1996. For his lasting contributions to sports and the community, Buchanan was honored as a two-time inductee into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 and 2021.
Jennings "Rusty" buchanan
HOME AAU PRESIDENTS
2020 - 2022 Held a leadership position for 30+ years including First Vice-President before becoming AAU President/CEO in 2020. Forty-eighth president of the AAU, Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan began in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in the 400 hurdles at the AAU National Championships in the late 1970’s. A pioneer in sports marketing, Buchanan has been a key figure in, and greatly impacted the explosive growth of amateur youth sports across the United States. In 1991, following stints at sportswear powerhouses Adidas and Kaepa, he founded the Buchanan Company, which was the exclusive management arm of one of the first sports commissions in the United States, serving Brevard County/Space Coast of Florida. Over the years, Buchanan hosted hundreds of successful amateur sport events in the Space Coast Florida area, and the state of Florida, generating millions of dollars in economic impact. These events included AAU basketball national championships and several AAU Junior Olympic Games (1990,1991, 1994, 2000, 2021). His extensive sports ties earned him a spot on the 1994 World Cup organizing committee for Orlando. In the mid-1990’s, Buchanan was instrumental in making WALT DISNEY WORLD® in Lake Buena Vista, Florida the “Home of the AAU” serving in several capacities to help make the partnership a reality. This included working to develop and execute the conceptual, contractual, and operational aspects for the agreement. In 1996, the AAU relocated its offices from Indianapolis, Indiana to Lake Buena Vista and, in 1997, starting hosting events at what is now known as the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. He has brought his vision and passion for sports to numerous boards including the Florida Sports Foundation and the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Federation. Furthering his Olympic ties, Buchanan was part of the select group honored with carrying the Olympic torch through Brevard County in 1996. For his lasting contributions to sports and the community, Buchanan was honored as a two-time inductee into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 and 2021.
Jennings "Rusty" buchanan