Stuart Buchanan returned to the Mountain West in February 2026 as associate commissioner of strategic communications.
Buchanan was previously with the Mountain West from 2015-23 before a brief stint outside of collegiate athletics as Northern Colorado’s senior regional marketing and public relations manager for Banner Health.
As a member of the Conference’s senior leadership team, Buchanan will provide day-to-day direction of the league’s strategic communications and digital/social media efforts along with managing the communications and promotion of MW football. He will also serve as the media coordinator for the men’s and women’s basketball championships and MW Football Media Days.
Prior to his departure, Buchanan served as the assistant commissioner of strategic communications after being promoted in 2021. Buchanan had primary communications coverage for football and men’s and women’s golf, along with daily oversight of the strategic communications and digital/social media departments.
Buchanan first arrived at the MW from Colorado State University, where he joined the Rams’ media relations staff in a full-time capacity on Aug. 12, 2013, after serving as a student assistant. He was the secondary contact for CSU’s football program as well as the primary contact for the women’s golf and tennis teams. Buchanan also handled administrative duties for Colorado State’s largest Twitter account, as well as the department’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. In addition, he was a key contributor and content editor for the official website of the CSU Rams and The Horn, a quarterly magazine.
A native of Fort Collins, Colorado, Buchanan earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies in May 2013 from the University of Northern Colorado. Buchanan and his wife, Lauren, have two children, Grayson and Emma.